News 18:00

BULLETIN 29 November 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Former South African cricketers are arrested for a 2016 match-fixing scandal
# AfriForum alerts the UN to the risks of English dominance in South Africa’s education system
# And the UK’s Transport secretary resigns after reports that she committed a criminal offence before becoming an MP

# Three former South African cricketers have been arrested in connection with match-fixing during the 2015/’16 T20 Ram Slam Challenge. Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, and Ethy Mbhalati’s arrests followed investigations by Cricket South Africa and the Hawks. Tsolekile and Tsotsobe appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today where the case was postponed to February. Mbhalati appeared earlier this month already. The case is linked to another former player, Gulam Bodi, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 for facilitating match-fixing with Indian bookmakers.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for increased investment in youth sports development to ensure future athletes have the opportunities to succeed. Speaking at the Olympic and Paralympic medallists’ ceremony in Tshwane, he highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships with local schools, community centres, and clubs to provide children nationwide with access to sports programmes. Ramaphosa says supporting youth development is crucial for producing the next generation of world-class athletes:

# AfriForum has informed the United Nations’ Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva about the potential risks of English dominance in South Africa’s education system due to the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. AfriForum’s Alana Bailey warns the act would negatively impact Afrikaans communities and exacerbate overcrowding in schools. She calls on the international community to pressure the government to prioritise language diversity in education:

# The Mpumalanga High Court has authorised the humane culling of wildlife in Marloth Park on the border of the Kruger National Park, addressing severe overpopulation causing starvation and illness. The ruling follows a plea by the National SPCA, citing years of mismanagement. In 2017 an interdict has blocked culling efforts. According to News24, the Nkomazi Municipality welcomed the decision, emphasising professional conservation practices. Supplementary feeding, veterinary care, and population control will now be implemented.

# Louise Haigh resigned as Britain’s Transport secretary after revelations that she pleaded guilty to a criminal offence before becoming a member of Parliament. She handed in her notice after media reports emerged that she had incorrectly told police her work mobile phone was stolen when she was mugged in 2013. But she found the handset later and did not inform police. British media says Haigh admitted a fraud charge in court in 2014 and was discharged without any further action.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-5-cents and the euro at 19-rand-4-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-11-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-659-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….