News 07:00

BULLETIN 30 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COPE wants to make it difficult for members with legal conflicts to serve in Parliament
# DENOSA is concerned by the exodus of skilled healthcare professionals
# And cricket: Ireland record their first T20 win over South Africa

# COPE urges Parliament to establish new rules that uphold the institution’s integrity, preventing questionable individuals from assuming positions of power. This is as the Western Cape High Court interdicted MK Party leader in Parliament, John Hlophe, from participating in the upcoming Judicial Service Commission interviews. COPE says it is once again calling for legislation that would make it difficult for those with legal conflicts to serve as members of Parliament, requiring them to resolve their legal issues before taking office.

# The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa has expressed concern at reports that many skilled healthcare professionals have relocated to countries such as the UK, Dubai, and Germany. In May, the Department of Health reported a vacancy rate of 18.6-percent for specialised medical personnel and 13.7-percent for nurses. Denosa’s Gauteng chairperson, Simphiwe Gada, has underscored the importance of retaining skilled workers within the country:

# A 21-year-old South African woman was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for allegedly smuggling drugs yesterday. The woman was profiled and intercepted as she arrived on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil. National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says this is the eleventh drug mule to be arrested at the airport in two months:

# The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has suspended Lindi Nhaca, former mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality, for defying party decisions. This suspension comes amid ongoing disciplinary processes. The ANC emphasises that members must prioritise party objectives over personal interests. It claims that Nhaca’s actions have reportedly jeopardised unity within the party. Consequently, she is barred from attending ANC meetings or representing the party in any capacity.

# The United Nations World Food Programme has launched an emergency operation, to provide food assistance for up to one million people affected by the recent escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. Over one-thousand people have been killed since Israeli attacks escalated last week. WFP has to date reached more than 66-thousand people in shelters across Lebanon. WFP’s Corinne Fleischer says a further escalation would be highly detrimental to the people of this region, as it would massively stretch the humanitarian community’s collective operational and financial capacities.

# Cricket: Ireland beat South Africa by ten runs in the second and final T20 International in Abu Dhabi, to draw the two-match series one-all. Ross Adair scored 100 off 58 balls, his maiden century in T20, as Ireland posted 195 for six in their 20 overs. In reply, Mark Adair took four wickets as the Proteas fell just short of the competitive total, ending on 185 for nine. This is Ireland’s first T20 international win over South Africa at the seventh attempt.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-720-dollars-46-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-653-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….