News 17:00

BULLETIN 12 November 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# SASSA urges grant beneficiaries to disclose changes in their financial circumstances
# The acting coordinator of the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee explains plan to tackle illegal mining
# And rugby: A group of 61 players selected for the SA U20 Academy camp

# The South African Social Security Agency urges social grant beneficiaries to disclose any changes in their financial, employment or personal circumstances that could affect their eligibility for assistance. The agency commends recipients who voluntarily come forward to update their details or cancel their grants after securing employment or improving their financial situation. SASSA’s Andile Tshona warns beneficiaries who continue receiving grants despite no longer qualifying could be required to repay money received unlawfully:

# The acting coordinator of the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee, Ntandazo Sifolo, says illegal mining was elevated to a national security threat following violations of citizens’ rights. Testifying at the Madlanga Commission, Sifolo says the committee was tasked with coordinating government departments, including police and mining authorities, to develop an intervention plan. He says a recommendation was made to use funds from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account to finance efforts to combat illegal mining:

# Parliament’s Select Committee on Security and Justice says overcrowding in correctional facilities and the continued high number of remand detainees remain significant concerns. South Africa’s correctional facilities face a severe chronic overcrowding crisis, operating at roughly 63-percent beyond their official design capacity. The facilities currently accommodate 30-thousand-289 foreign nationals. Committee chairperson Jane Seboletswe Mananiso says the Department of Correctional Services must pursue memoranda of understanding with neighbouring countries to facilitate the management and repatriation of foreign nationals:

# An American baby buried alive for 24 hours is expected to make a full recovery. Eleven-month-old Koah Sharpe was rescued on Tuesday after his father allegedly wrapped him in a towel, put him in a dog crate, and buried him in a shallow grave. Search parties heard his faint crying and dug him up. The 25-year-old father, Michael Comer, was charged with attempted murder. Koah was placed with family members after being discharged from hospital, and police believe he will not remember his ordeal as he grows up.

# Rugby: Six members of the Junior Springboks team participating in this year’s Junior World Championship in Georgia are among 61 players picked for a SA Under-20 Academy camp in Stellenbosch from 23 to 27 November. They are props Jordan Jooste and Luan van den Berg, loose forwards Wasi Vyambwera and Gert Kemp, scrumhalf Jayden Brits, and wing Jordan Steenkamp. Head coach Kevin Foote says the focus will be on introducing them to the game model and the standards and expectations from representing the Junior Boks.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-68-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-49-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-763-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-934-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….