News 06:00

BULLETIN 28 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana says the plans to downsize the cabinet have been put on hold
# Food safety protocols are introduced for matric marking centres
# And cricket: Rain plays havoc on the first day of the Durban Test between the Proteas and Sri Lanka

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says the formation of the government of national unity necessitated the increase in the number of cabinet posts. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet has increased from 30 to 32 ministers, and the number of deputy ministers has risen to 43 from 36. This despite reducing the size of the cabinet and government departments was a key commitment of Ramaphosa’s previous term. Godongwana told Parliament that the strategic thrust of reorganising government remains on course.

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube says food safety is a priority at marking centres for the National Senior Certificate exams. Gwarube told the media following recent food-borne illnesses linked to pesticides, schools have been advised to stop using harmful chemicals. She also instructed schools to only allow compliant food vendors on their premises to protect learners and staff from potential health hazards:

# Eskom urges customers who have not been purchasing electricity to resolve meter issues by 13 December to avoid penalties. Following the completion of the key revision number two transition, around 400-thousand zero buyers have been converted to paying customers, however, 1.7-million customers remain non-compliant. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, warns customers who failed to buy tokens before the 24 November deadline or have unresolved meter issues may face fines and meter audits:

# The Gauteng government says it is assessing the extent of the damage after a severe storm hit parts of Randfontein yesterday afternoon. At least 24 people were injured. Homes, an apartment block, and a shopping centre in Toekomsrus were damaged in the storm. The South African Weather Service says a severe thunderstorm might have resulted in a tornado. Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says they are providing help to all those affected:

# The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has asked judges to grant an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing over alleged crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya Muslims. Karim Khan’s request to the court’s Hague-based judges is the first application for an arrest warrant against a high-level Myanmar government official in connection with abuses against the Rohingya people. This included crimes of deportation and persecution, allegedly committed between 25 August and 31 December 2017.

# Cricket: South Africa will resume on 80 for four this morning after rain washed out the whole afternoon of the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Durban. The Proteas started batting and Aiden Markram was removed in the third over, while Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and David Bedingham were also back in the pavilion with just 54 on the board. Captain Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreyne then took the hosts to 80 for four at lunchtime, whereafter no play was possible.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-18-cents and the euro at 19-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-943-dollar-14-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-637-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….