News 16:00

BULLETIN 5 November 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Judgment is reserved in DA Abroad’s citizenship court case
# The possibility of increasing the 30-percent school pass mark remains under consideration
# And rugby: Scotland’s coach warns his players they need to improve in every department when they face the Boks on Sunday

# The Constitutional Court has reserved judgment in DA Abroad’s citizenship court case. The petition is challenging the South African Citizenship Act, which mandates the loss of citizenship for South Africans after acquiring another nationality without permission. The Supreme Court of Appeal had previously ruled in favour, while the Constitutional Court was meant to ratify this. The DA’s Ludré Stevens says they advocate for an automatic citizenship restoration:

# Water and Sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina says Gauteng does not face a drought but significant water security challenges. The minister calls for municipalities to impose water restrictions and upgrade systems while reducing sewage pollution. She says a provincial water imbizo has also been held to address these challenges collaboratively while a platform for a water-secure Gauteng has been implemented:

# The Department of Basic Education has assured that the possibility of increasing the 30-percent pass mark remains under consideration. Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the formation of an advisory council to determine the feasibility of such a move. The issue has been a subject of public debate, with many arguing that it sets a low standard for academic achievement. Gwarube acknowledges the criticism, citing that she is not oblivious to the importance of this matter.

# The families of two South African engineers unlawfully detained in Equatorial Guinea for 634 days, staged a peaceful protest at Africa Energy Week in Cape Town today. They appealed for clemency, highlighting the severe toll on Frik Potgieter and British-South African citizen Peter Huxham’s health. Spokesperson Shaun Murphy urges the South African and UK ministers to intervene and secure the men’s release:

# Rugby: Scotland’s head coach, Gregor Townsend, warned his charges they need to improve in every department when they face the Springboks at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Sunday. This follows Scotland’s run-away 57-17 victory over Fiji last weekend. Townsend welcomed back experienced players Finn Russel, Blair Kinghorn and Ben White for the clash. He says the four-time world champion is the best team in the world and is currently playing a different style of rugby than at their previous meeting in the pool stage of last year’s World Cup.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-41-cents and the euro at 18-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-815-dollars-10-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-741-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….