News 07:00

BULLETIN 11 November 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC Youth League warns the ANC against entering into coalition agreements with the DA
# SA Tourism CEO’s suspension costs taxpayers more than six-million-rand
# And rugby: Bok assistant coach Felix Jones is expecting fresh tactical moves from France

# The ANC Youth League says the DA and other right-wing parties must be a no-go area for coalition arrangements involving the ANC. Following the local government elections, 138 councils will be run by coalitions, almost double the number in 2021. The ANC lost council seats in all eight of the country’s metros in the elections. ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji says the emerging coalition landscape requires ideological clarity and a clear understanding of the political interests that must be protected:

# The suspension of South African Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe has cost taxpayers more than 6.18-million-rand, with her disciplinary case still unresolved after 15 months. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says the bill includes 3.64-million-rand in Guliwe’s salary, 1.78-million-rand in legal fees and more than 751-thousand-rand for an interim CEO. The disciplinary hearing concluded in May, but after an appeal, the matter has been referred to a new chairperson to consider a preliminary legal objection. The case centres on an alleged irregular 4.1-million-rand payment made while Guliwe was chief financial officer.

# The Electoral Commission has ordered a fresh vote in ward three of the Siyancuma Local Municipality in the Northern Cape after more than 100 ballot papers were destroyed when a counting centre was stormed. The vote will take place on 18 November at Bongani Community Hall, from 7 am until 9 pm. Only voters registered in the affected voting district may vote. Special votes will take place on 17 November, and applications close on 14 November. 

# Rand Water group chief executive Sipho Mosai says the top non-performing or defaulting municipalities owe a combined total of 5.612-billion-rand. Emfuleni, Merafong City, Randwest City and Govan Mbeki were the utility’s worst defaulters. Mosai says they have offered relief programmes, special payment arrangements and direct talks between finance chiefs. Meanwhile, Mosai also stated that ageing infrastructure, illegal connections and weak maintenance were driving water losses. National non-revenue water is around 48-percent, against a global average of about 30-percent.

# US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has described Republican Congressman Thomas Massie’s efforts to impeach him as a “farce” and “political spectacle.” Massie has accused Hegseth of illegally waging war against Iran without congressional authorisation and abusing the powers of his office. The effort will likely fail, as Republicans remain in power in Congress until January. Hegseth says no previous defence secretaries had ever been impeached for carrying out “lawful military operations”:

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones says they are anticipating an unpredictable new tactical element from France in Friday night’s Nations Championship clash at the Stade de France. Following South Africa’s narrow 2023 World Cup quarterfinal win and a 32-17 victory at the same venue last year, Jones admitted that a desire for revenge likely fuels Les Bleus. However, he says they are bracing for an intense, physical battle on the field:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-732-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-47-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….