News 11:00

BULLETIN 26 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament moves to expand oversight of the Presidency
# Government to develop a Township Economic Policy amid the spaza shop food poisoning cases
# And, rugby: A narrow victory for the Bulls in the URC clash against Benetton

# Parliament is advancing a proposal to place the Presidency under the oversight of the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation. Historically opposed by the ANC, the party now supports the measure, preferring a minister to account for the Presidency’s budget. Opposition parties like the EFF and MKP push for direct accountability from the president or deputy president. If approved, this will mark the first time in South Africa’s democratic history that the Presidency’s operations undergo full legislative oversight.

# The Small Business Development Department and government are drafting a township and rural economic policy to regulate spaza shops following food poisoning cases in Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. During a parliamentary debate, political parties stress that the move is not xenophobic, calling for non-compliant shops to close. Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams confirmed that interventions, consultations and regulations for micro-businesses are underway:

# The Department of Home Affairs now offers couples reprints to recognise their marriages as Muslim for a fee of 20-rand. Thirty-three marriage certificates have been granted under the new classification, marking the first official recognition of Muslim unions in South African history. Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber says the reprint option lets Muslim couples formalise their marriage status, affirming government recognition: 

# A Special Official memorial service for former Labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana is being held today at the University of the Western Cape. The respected ANC activist and founding president of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, passed away last Friday at 72. He was appointed minister by President Nelson Mandela and was retained in this role by presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma. He also served as South Africa’s Ambassador to Burundi and High Commissioner to Canada. A private cremation will be held on Wednesday.

# And, rugby: A late converted try from Springbok hooker Akker van der Merwe helped the Bulls to clinch a narrow 17-15 victory over Benetton in their United Rugby Championship clash in Treviso, Italy, last night. Benetton held the edge for most of the encounter and Van der Merwe’s score drew his side level with the hosts. Full-back David Kriel held his nerve to slot the match-winning conversion in the dying moments.  The Bulls are still the best performing South African franchise in the URC and maintained their second place on the log.

Stay tuned for more news………….