News 07:00

BULLETIN 12 November 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Shamila Batohi says the NPA will file another extradition application for the Gupta brothers
# RISE Mzansi takes the fight against gambling to the Betway boardroom
# And rugby: Lood de Jager is handed a four-match ban following a red card against France

# National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi, says they will do everything possible to extradite the Guptas to South Africa. The National Prosecuting Authority’s extradition request to the United Arab Emirates for brothers Atul and Rajesh Gupta was rejected in April 2023. They are wanted for charges including fraud and money laundering related to state capture. Batohi told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that the Guptas are largely responsible for bringing the country to its knees:

# The Board of Healthcare Funders calls on Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to provide clarity on the future of medical tax credits ahead of today’s medium-term budget policy statement. The organisation warns that removing tax credits before the National Health Insurance is fully operational could make medical schemes unaffordable for hundreds of thousands of low-income South Africans. The board’s Katlego Mothudi says changes must be gradual and clear to keep healthcare affordable for all:

# RISE Mzansi is intensifying its campaign to reform South Africa’s gambling industry. The party has met with Betway’s CEO Laurence Michel to present its seven-point plan, focusing on issues like advertising and responsible gambling. It is also planning to picket outside the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in Tshwane on Friday, calling for stricter gambling reforms. RISE Mzansi’s Makashule Gana says the gambling industry made 1.5-trillion-rand last year but paid only 5.8-billion-rand in taxes.

# The Ekurhuleni Municipality says it is launching an independent internal investigation into new allegations of wrongdoing within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department. This comes after suspending its deputy metro police chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, amid allegations linking him to alleged criminal Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and irregular activities within the department. City Manager Kagiso Lerutla says Mkhwanazi ‘s suspension is an administrative measure, not a finding of guilt, aimed at protecting the integrity of ongoing disciplinary proceedings. He adds that they are committed to accountability and restoring public trust.

# UK Justice Secretary David Lammy has confirmed that three prisoners who were wrongly released from prisons in England and Wales remain on the run. Of the three confirmed cases, two were released in August and December last year and a third in June this year. Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that a total of 91 prisoners were freed by mistake between April and the end of October this year. Lammy says the release process requires a radical overhaul:

# Rugby: Springbok lock Lood de Jager has been banned for four matches and will miss the remainder of the end-of-year tour. He received a red card for a shoulder charge on France full-back Thomas Ramos in what turned out to be a 32-17 victory for South Africa in Paris. An independent Disciplinary Committee upheld the permanent red card decision on Tuesday. De Jager will miss the Springboks matches against Italy, Ireland, and Wales, as well as his club Wild Knights’ Japan League One match against Brave Lupus in December.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-175-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-128-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….