News 07:00

BULLETIN 21 November 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The head of the NPA says the slow progress in prosecuting corruption cases is due to skill shortages
# A 92-year-old man is  charged with the rape and murder of a woman in 1967
# And rugby: The Wales coach makes four changes for their clash against the Springboks

# National prosecuting head, Shamila Batohi, says the lack of specialised skills is a significant obstacle to expediting prosecutions, particularly in complex cases linked to state capture. Since 2018, the Special Investigating Unit has referred three-thousand-320 criminal cases to the NPA, including one-thousand-162 involving fraud offences. Thirty-seven cases stemming from the state capture inquiry are before the courts. Batohi told Parliament that while the SIU’s identification of prima facie evidence of corruption and referrals to the NPA were crucial, they were not sufficient on their own to prosecute those implicated.

# Metalworkers union Numsa is making oral submissions to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa in response to Eskom’s tariff increase application. The union rejects Eskom’s proposed revenue increase, which would result in tariff hikes of up to 36-percent for customers in 2026. National spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola argues these increases would exacerbate the economic crisis, leading to more retrenchments, de-industrialisation, and business closures:

# KwaZulu-Natal premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has highlighted the urgency of addressing illegal activities, which undermine food safety regulations and endanger lives. Police raided four warehouses in Durban where imported expired food was discovered. This comes as the country is battling a foodborne illness outbreak. Twenty-three children have died in the country after allegedly consuming contaminated food bought from spaza shops. Ntuli says the raids mark a pivotal moment in the province’s fight against crime and public endangerment:

# The City of Tshwane is encouraging residents and businesses in arrears to settle their accounts by 29 November 2024 to receive a 100-percent discount on interest charges. The Black Friday Special, running from 19 to 29 November, applies to those who clear their municipal accounts in full. As of October 2024, the city’s debt stands at 27.8-billion-rand, with 26-billion-rand overdue. Residents can visit municipal offices or send an email for more information.

# A 92-year-old man was charged with the rape and murder of a woman in Bristol, England, in 1967 and appeared in court yesterday. Ryland Headley, from Ipswich, was arrested earlier this week after a forensic review of the case. The 75-year-old Louisa Dunne was found dead by a neighbour in her home in the Easton area of Bristol in June 1967. She had been strangled and raped. Headley did not enter pleas to the two charges against him. The judge sent the matter to the Bristol Crown Court, with a hearing today.

# Rugby: Wales coach Warren Gatland has made four changes to the starting line-up to face world champions South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday. Sam Costelow starts at flyhalf, Blair Murray moves from the wing to fullback, winger Rio Dyer returns, while lock Christ Tshiunza replaces the injured Adam Beard. Gatland, who has overseen a record eleven successive Test match defeats, says he has a strong desire to continue in his role as head coach:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-555-dollar-30-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-657-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-10-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….