News 06:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 17 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA urges the ANC government to retain diplomatic channels with Israel and Palestine
# JAcob Zuma files supplementary affidavits to have Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s appointment declared unconstitutional
# And cricket: Australia beat South Africa to clinch a World Cup final spot for the eighth time

# The DA says it is vital for South Africa to retain diplomatic channels with both Israel and Palestine. Members of Parliament yesterday debated a motion from the EFF for government to sever all diplomatic ties with Israel, over its bombardment of the Palestinian territory of Gaza. The DA’s Emma Louise Powell says the ANC’s decision to withdraw diplomats from Tel Aviv, and the EFF’s motion, will simply diminish the country’s ability to demand accountability in the region and to influence a swift and peaceful resolution to this abhorrent war.

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party believes isolation in a time of war is not a solution for South Africa. The party was responding to a motion brought to Parliament by the EFF to have the Israeli embassy in South Africa closed. The motion was debated yesterday in a mini-plenary of the National Assembly but will be voted on at a later date. IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa argued a shutdown of the embassy is counterproductive to the country’s call for peace:

Play sound: ENG-HlengwaOnEmbassy

# Former president Jacob Zuma has filed his supplementary affidavits to have the April 2022 appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice set aside. The JG Zuma Foundation claims Zondo’s appointment was irrational because president Cyril Ramaphosa ignored the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, whose preferred candidate for appointment was now Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. The foundation says this legal challenge will give Ramaphosa the opportunity to justify his conduct, failing which it must be declared unconstitutional and set aside.

# A woman suspected of murdering relatives to benefit from insurance claims will appear at the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court in North West today on a charge of murder. The 49-year-old was arrested in Centurion, Gauteng following an intelligence operation led by the police in collaboration with an insurance company yesterday. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says investigations also probe the deaths of the suspect’s son, husband, and two daughters, revealing a pattern of insurance fraud:

Play sound: ENG MatheOnInsurance

# Cricket: It was another World Cup semifinal heartbreak for South Africa as they suffered a three-wicket defeat to Australia. A heroic century by David Miller helped the Proteas post a modest but competitive total of 212 after batting first. In reply, Australia made a flying start with Travis Head hitting 62 before they slipped to 137 for five. However, captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc completed a hard-fought victory with 16 balls to spare. Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says he is proud of how the team fought till the end:

Play sound: ENG BavumaOnFight

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-441-dollars-4-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-862-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Miss Universe South Africa Bryoni Govender has been named one of the top ten silver finalists in Miss Universe 2023’s Voice For Change. Her advocacy campaign Her Way Out, aims to take up the cudgels on behalf of women everywhere and help educate them on their legal rights. The three Voice for Change gold winners will be announced during the Miss Universe finale in El Salvador this weekend. They will each receive a 218-thousand-rand cash prize. People can vote for Govender on the Miss Universe website.

Stay tuned for more news………….