News 06:00

BULLETIN 30 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Presidency says president Ramaphosa will apply his mind properly before signing the National Health Insurance Bill
# The minister of Police welcomes the 12-year sentence for an instigator of the July 2021 civil unrest
# And, the death toll in the Impala Platinum mine accident has risen to 12

# The presidency has sought to assure those concerned about the constitutionality of the National Health Insurance Bill that president Cyril Ramaphosa will not merely rubber stamp work done by Parliament. The National Council of Provinces was expected to vote on the bill yesterday, but it was postponed to next week Wednesday. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says once the bill has been passed, the president still has a constitutional imperative to make sure all processes were followed before signing it into law.

# Police minister Bheki Cele has welcomed the sentencing of one of the instigators of the July 2021 civil unrest. Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Mdumiseni Zuma to 12 years behind bars, with two years suspended. In September, he was convicted on charges of committing public violence and incitement to commit arson. The charges are linked to the widespread looting and destruction that occurred at the Pietermaritzburg Brookside Shopping Mall during the unrest. Cele says he hopes more instigators will be sentenced:

# A 12th miner has died after Monday’s accident at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg in the North West. He was in a critical condition in hospital and passed away yesterday. Seventy-four other miners remain in hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The deadly accident occurred when a lift carrying workers suffered a mechanical fault, resulting in it plunging to the bottom of the shaft. The Impala Platinum mine says it will be supporting the families with the burial costs.

# Floyd Brink has been reinstated as Johannesburg City manager after a behind-closed-doors council meeting yesterday. On the seventh of this month, the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg declared his appointment unconstitutional and invalid. Acting Judge Steven Budlender ruled that the manner in which former Speaker Colleen Makhubele brought the motion to hire Brink to the council was problematic. City spokesperson Virgil James says Brink was reappointed after the council followed due process, which it had failed to do the first time around.

# A senior delegation from Hamas has arrived in South Africa to participate in the fifth global convention of solidarity with Palestine. The group aims to engage with political parties, civil society groups, and the Palestine Solidarity Movement, providing updates on Israel’s actions in Gaza. The convention, organised by the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine and the Royal House of Mandela, marks the tenth anniversary of the global campaign’s launch and Nelson Mandela’s death. The event will run from Saturday to Tuesday and will focus on confronting racism till liberation.

# Golf: The Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate will make history this week as the longest course ever played on the DP World Tour when the first round of the South African Open tees off today. The seven-thousand528-metre par-72 course designed by local golfing hero Gary Player is predicted to be a tough test, especially with warm weather expected.  It is a strong field with several former champions, including Brandon Stone:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-785-dollars-98-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-45-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….