News 06:00

BULLETIN 7 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An economist warns South Africa’s Growth and Opportunity benefits may be strained
# Minister Gwarube says her department has started to implement the BELA Act
# And the secretary-general of the MK Party has resigned

# Stellenbosch Business School Economist Andre Roux says United States president-elect Donald Trump’s victory could have negative effects on South Africa and Africa’s economy. Roux warns that Trump’s protectionist policies, including tariffs on imports, may harm trade relationships, particularly with the African Growth and Opportunity Act agreement. He also highlighted Trump’s low priority on climate change, which could have long-term consequences for Africa: 

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube says her department has started with the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Act into law in September but agreed to hold the implementation of two contentious clauses while discussions take place around addressing the impasse. Gwarube says they are still awaiting the presidential-led process on clauses four and five, which deal with language and admission policies:

The DA has meanwhile called on Ramaphosa to uphold his commitment to public consultation on the BELA Act. DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp criticised the ANC’s push for immediate enactment, warning it undermines parental rights and community input on school language and admissions policies. He urges Ramaphosa to align his party with a collaborative, consultative approach:

# The MK Party’s secretary-general Sifiso Maseko has resigned, four months after he took up the position. He succeeded Arthur Zwane, who was relieved of his duties amid allegations of misconduct. Maseko says he will return to his full-time job as chief director for infrastructure in the Gauteng Health Department. He was suspended by the department two years ago following a Special Investigating Unit probe into irregularities in the procurement of personal protective equipment. His suspension has since been lifted, pending the outcome of a disciplinary committee investigation.

# The mayoral committee member for the City of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Jack Sekwaila, and Finance mayoral committee member, Margaret Arnolds, will lead a revenue collection drive today, targeting high-debt defaulting businesses and residents in the Inner-City Service Delivery Centre areas. The operation seeks to recover over 105-million-rand from defaulting customers in Bellevue, Berea, Jeppestown, and Johannesburg CBD.

# Golf: Rory McIlroy feels that with Donald Trump sweeping the US presidential elections, a resolution in the PGA Tour-LIV Golf stand-off might be in sight. Media reports this week suggested that the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia and backers of LIV Golf, had reached an agreement with the PGA Tour to invest over a billion dollars in the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprise. The world number three, who is playing this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship, resigned from the PGA Tour policy board in November last year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 18-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-655-dollar-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-662-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….