News 08:00

BULLETIN 1 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA is frustrated over the Public Protector’s findings on Thabo Bester
# AfriForum launches a campaign to avert Day Zero in Gauteng
# And netball: South Africa secured a commanding victory in their first Test against Malawi

# The DA has urged Parliament to reopen its inquiry into the escape of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester. The party has expressed frustration over the limited findings of the Public Protector’s investigation into Bester’s escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State in May 2022. The DA’s Janho Engelbrecht criticised the report’s limited scope, stating that it fails to hold all responsible parties accountable:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Public Works and Infrastructure says a collective effort is needed to fund and reform the Expanded Public Works Programme. EPWP is aimed at creating temporary work opportunities for the unemployed. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean McPherson told the committee that the programme has suffered a 700-million-rand budget cut in recent years, which has adversely affected deliverables. The committee says it will support the department in addressing issues such as political patronage, corruption, and limited skills gained in the programme.  

# AfriForum has launched a campaign that will force municipalities in Gauteng to comply with the 72-hour deadline for the repair of water leaks. Rand Water has imposed a level one water restriction in the province until March next year, due to an increase in demand. AfriForum’s, Lambert de Klerk, says the campaign is aimed at averting the imminent Day Zero in the province and reducing the loss of drinking water due to leaks, which is currently estimated at approximately 33-percent:

# The White House has condemned North Korea’s launch of a long-range ballistic missile, saying this is a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. Yesterday morning, North Korea tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Hwasong-19. The test comes as North Korea appears to have intensified its nuclear production efforts and strengthened ties with Russia, deepening widespread concern in the West. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett says the launch needlessly raises regional tensions.

# Netball: South Africa claimed a comfortable 68-31 victory over Malawi in the first of three Tests in Johannesburg. The first quarter saw the victors score eleven goals to the host’s 16. The South Africans had opened the gap to 48-27 by the end of the second quarter. The Proteas continued their dominance in the third and fourth quarters to secure the victory. Proteas’ coach, Jenny van Dyk, says she is happy about the performance of her team:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-59-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-576-dollars-1-cent. Gold sells at two-thousand-748-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….