News 13:00

BULLETIN 7 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A former municpal CFO faces arrest after failing to appear in court in a VBS-related case
# Environmental groups urge the Western Cape High Court to block TotalEnergies’ oil drilling plans
# And road running: Caster Semenya will make her Boxer Super Run debut on Sunday

# The Hawks in Limpopo are searching for the Fetakgomo-Greater Tubatse Municipality’s former chief financial official, Tumelo Ratau, after he failed to appear in the High Court in Pretoria twice this week in a VBS Mutual Bank case. He was arrested in November 2021 for his alleged role in facilitating 230-million-rand in unlawful investments with the collapsed back. Ratau’s co-accused, former municipal manager Nkhono Mohlala, reached a plea deal, receiving a five-year suspended sentence. He has also been ordered to repay 100-thousand to the VBS liquidators.

# Environmental and community groups, including the Green Connection, Aukotowa Fisheries, and Natural Justice, have petitioned the Western Cape High Court to halt TotalEnergies’ oil drilling plans off the West Coast. They argue government’s approval of the project ignored the risks to marine life, coastal communities, and the environment. The Green Connection’s Lisa Makaula believes the approval process was unfair, calling for more sustainable energy solutions: 

# Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya says they are making progress towards their 100-day objective of achieving financial stability. The target is to collect at least four-billion-rand in revenue per month by the end of January. The mayor’s spokesperson, Zintle Mahlati, says last month they collected 3.68-billion-rand in revenue, surpassing the medium-term financial target by four-percent, and exceeding the average collection over the previous three months of 3.5-billion-rand:

# Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, says his country is at a crucial moment. He spoke to AFP ahead of a protest he has called for later today. Mondlane says he feels there is a revolutionary atmosphere that shows Mozambique is on the verge of a unique historical and political transition. Mondlane is currently abroad and says he could not attend the protest due to safety concerns.

# Road running: Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya is set to make her Boxer Super Run debut in Tshwane on Sunday. Her fiercest competition will come from Glenrose Xaba, who recently won the Cape Town marathon, setting a new national record. Semenya believes the race over five kilometres offers invaluable opportunities for young athletes, adding that the 147-thousand-rand prize purse is fantastic as well. Boxer Superstores’ marketing head, Lee-Ann Pillay, says Semenya’s involvement is an inspiration to all competitors.

# And the financial indicators:  The dollar trades at 17-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-120-dollars-50-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-660-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….