News 11:00

BULLETIN 30 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The African Transformation Movement wants a medium-term budget that is transformative
# Israel continues to defend its operations in northern Gaza
# And netball: The Protea coach is excited about their Test series against Malawi

# The African Transformation Movement says it anticipates a medium-term budget policy statement that is not merely a financial plan, but a transformative strategy. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver the first budget since the formation of the government of national unity in Parliament today. ATM’s Zama Ntshona says the budget must focus on job creation, food security, strengthening the Police Service, addressing illicit trade, and fair taxation of foreign-owned businesses:

Union federation Cosatu is meanwhile set to lead a picket outside Parliament, ahead of the mini budget. General secretary Solly Phetoe will spearhead the demonstration in Cape Town, demanding a bold and progressive budget that stimulates economic growth, creates jobs and ensures the delivery of quality public services. Cosatu’s Malvern de Bruyn advocates for policies that prioritise the needs of South African workers and communities: 

# The man found guilty of killing a teenager from Klawer in the Western Cape in 2022 will be sentenced on Monday. The arguments in mitigation and aggravation of Daniel Smit’s sentence were finalised in the High Court sitting in nearby Vredendal yesterday. The 58-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to murdering 13-year-old Jerobejin van Wyk. His lawyers asked for a 30-year sentence while the state insisted on a life sentence. Smit offered Jerobejin’s family the bakkie with which he knocked the child down before killing him, as compensation.

# The Israeli Defence Force has defended its continued operations in northern Gaza, saying they are designed to prevent Hamas from regrouping. An Israeli airstrike on a multi-storey building killed more than 90 people, including 25 children, in Beit Lahiya yesterday. The attack came a day after Israel banned the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees from operating in the country. The IDF says it was targeting a suspected terrorist and is trying to understand why so many people were in the area at the time of the airstrike.

# Netball: New Proteas head coach Jenny van Dyk says she is relishing the prospect of finally getting her tenure underway. Led by captain Khanyisa Chawane, South Africa is set to take on Malawi in a three-match series in Johannesburg from tomorrow until Sunday. The Proteas are currently ranked fifth in the world and Malawi is seventh. Van Dyk says the series is very important for them:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-321-dollars-37-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-786-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….