News 09:00

BULLETIN November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF is appalled by the government’s failure to build or renovate schools
# Parliament calls for urgent action on the Covid-grant investigation
# And several of Trump’s cabinet nominations are targeted with bomb threats

# The EFF says it is appalled but not surprised that the Department of Basic Education did not construct or replace schools in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, and North West during the 2023/2024 financial year. Despite receiving 1.8-billion-rand for school infrastructure, the Eastern Cape spent only 70-percent of its budget. Limpopo fared worse, spending just 41-percent of its 1.5-billion-rand allocation as of mid-November. The EFF says this underperformance is not a mere administrative failure, but a calculated act of neglect that leaves children in overcrowded classrooms.

# Parliament’s Social Development Portfolio Committee chairperson, Bridget Masango says swift implementation of findings from the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant investigation is urgent. Minister Sisisi Tolashe initiated the probe following claims of identity theft vulnerabilities by Stellenbosch students. Masango emphasised to the SABC that regular progress reports will be made available to ensure transparency in addressing the grant’s security flaws:

# The DA is calling for the City of Tshwane coalition government to deliver the Hammanskraal Clean Water Project before the start of the December holidays. Phase one of the project was meant to be done by the end of October but has been delayed. The Department of Water and Sanitation last year allocated 758-million-rand for the upgrading of the Klipdrift water treatment plant, to address water supply and quality challenges in Hammanskraal. The DA says if Klipdrift is complete, then Tshwane will save 60-million-rand a year on water tankers.

# Several US president-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees and administration appointees have been the target of threats. These include bomb threats and swatting, in which hoax calls are made to attract a police response to the target’s home. Individuals who have been targeted include Trump’s pick for US ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik, and Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick. Trump’s transition team’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, says dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter them.

# Soccer: Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the Champions League with a two-nil victory over reigning champions Real Madrid at Anfield. Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo secured the win, their first over Madrid since 2009 in this competition. Borussia Dortmund moved into the top eight of the Champions League with a three-nil victory over Dinamo Zagreb, while Aston Villa played to a goalless draw against Juventus. Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, was happy with his side’s performance:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-22-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-609-dollars-23-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-629-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….