News 08:00

BULLETIN 30 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA is against any reductions in the education budget
# Kamala Harris says the election is a choice between freedom or division
# And soccer: Banyana Banyana suffer a narrow defeat to England

# Build One South Africa says it unequivocally opposes any reductions in the education budget and urges the government to identify alternative funding sources. This is as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament today. BOSA president, Mmusi Maimane, says they have identified several sources from which to redirect at least 50-billion-rand in funds towards the education budget shortfall, and ensure teachers are adequately supported:

# Disgraced former Home Affairs and Public Enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba has been elected co-chairperson of Parliament’s joint committee on Defence. He was elected by a majority of seven votes, while the DA’s Nicholas Gotsell got five. ANC’s Phiroene Anthony Phala was elected co-chairperson of the committee. Gigaba was implicated in the state capture commission for allegedly conspiring with former president Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family. He says he is confident, given his background in the justice, peace, and security cluster of cabinet, that he could handle this portfolio.

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has commended the Hawks for their swift arrest of 14 suspects, including a former Nedbank employee, on allegations of fraud and money laundering. It is reported that the main suspect unlawfully made payments from suspense accounts valued at over 157-million-rand, which were transferred to recipients who were not entitled to receive such monies. The ministry’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, says the suspects were arrested in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Krugersdorp:

# US vice president Kamala Harris says the election is a choice between a country rooted in freedom for every American, or ruled by chaos and division. She made her campaign’s closing argument at the Ellipse in Washington, where former president Donald Trump rallied his supporters before storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Harris says Trump would walk into the Oval Office with a list of enemies, whereas she would walk in with a to-do list:

# Soccer: African champions Banyana Banyana suffered a two-one defeat to European champions England in an international friendly in Coventry. First-half goals from captain Leah Williamson, who made her 50th appearance for the Lionesses, and Grace Clinton, secured the win for the hosts. Thembi Kgatlana scored the consolation goal for South Africa. This was the first meeting between the two sides since February 2010 in the Cyprus Cup tournament.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-67-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-265-dollars-61-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-778-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….