News 09:00

BULLETIN 9 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa still needs to resolve weaknesses in its financial system after exiting the greylist
# The FF Plus criticises Ekurhuleni for spending 57-million-rand  with no real outcomes
# And, Benjamin Netanyahu was allegedly warned before the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023

# Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo says South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s greylist does not mean every weakness in the system has been resolved. He says this is why government is currently conducting national assessments of the risks associated with money-laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. South Africa was removed from the greylist last year, after the country illustrated its improved ability to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing. Masondo says the country must continue to show that it detects, investigates, and prosecutes financial crimes.

# Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela met with the Special Investigating Unit head, Leonard Lekgetho, to receive an update on investigations into allegations of maladministration, fraud, and corruption across the Post-School Education and Training sector. The SIU recorded more than two-billion-rand in NSFAS-related recoveries from universities and TVET colleges, and acknowledgement of debt worth about 5.4-million-rand. The department’s spokesperson, Matshepo Seedat, says the SIU prevented 109-million-rand in future expenditure following the cancellation of a security contract at the Vaal University of Technology:

# The Freedom Front Plus says Ekurhuleni’s Early Childhood Development programme is a prime example of how millions of rand are often spent on infrastructure without reaching all the communities that were supposed to benefit. The original construction cost of the three centres in Vosloorus, Eden Park and Tsakane amounts to approximately 57.4-million-rand. FF Plus’s Marlize Herbst says these amounts reflect only the initial capital costs and do not include the ongoing expenditure on security, maintenance, repairs and routine renovations:

# Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was allegedly warned by the United Arab Emirates president Mohammed bin Zayed that Hamas was planning a major offensive in Israel, just days before the militant group launched its attack on 7 October 2023. The deadliest attack in Israel’s history saw over one-thousand-200 people murdered and more than 250 abducted to Gaza. According to a book by Haaretz reporters, Netanyahu told Bin Zayed during a phone call that Israel was prepared for any scenario. Netanyahu’s office has denounced the report as an “absolute lie”.

# Soccer: Jose Mourinho made a winning return to the Champions League with Real Madrid as they beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. France captain Mbappe has moved into joint fifth place on the all-time Champions League and European Cup goalscorers list with 71 goals. Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City began their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory against FC Porto. Aston Villa secured a 3-2 win over Club Brugge. Borussia Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2, and Real Betis won by the same score at Lille.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-66-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-888-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-375-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….