News 08:00

BULLETIN 25 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC is looking to safeguard its alliance with the SACP
# SCOPA continues the enquiry into the Road Accident Fund
# And a judge dismisses the cases against the former FBI director and New York attorney general

# The ANC says it is important to safeguard the revolutionary and historic alliance with the South African Communist Party. The ANC and the SACP held a bilateral engagement in Johannesburg on Monday. The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to consolidate unity of purpose in advancing the National Democratic Revolution. ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, says the SACP’s decision to contest the 2026 local government elections independently won’t be good for the alliance:

Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party says it is working to strengthen its position ahead of the 2026 local government elections, while also reinforcing relations with its allies. SACP spokesperson, Mbulelo Madlana, stressed that the alliance with the ANC is not only about elections, and that it remains committed to defending and strengthening their shared programme:

# Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts enters its eighth week of enquiry into the Road Accident Fund, investigating possible mismanagement, governance lapses, and questionable decisions by former executives and board members. Concerns include irregular expenditure, weak oversight, and failures in accountability. Former CEO Collins Letsoalo is scheduled to appear today, with board members Lorraine Francois, Thembelihle Msibi, Lekau Moses Nyama, and Nomonde Mabuya-Moloele to testify on 27 November.

# A US federal judge has dismissed the criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. This is because the prosecutor who brought the cases, president Donald Trump’s attorney Lindsey Halligan, was not lawfully appointed. Judge Cameron Currie stated that Halligan, who had never prosecuted a case before, was not authorised to present the charges to the grand jury. The Justice Department has announced that it will appeal. Comey says this prosecution was based on malevolence and incompetence:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 54-player preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next month. The coach has opted for a blend of experience and emerging talent in his initial selection, including the likes of Themba Zwane, Under-20 Afcon-winning centre-back Tylon Smith, and Shandre Campbell. There is also a notable return for Fawaaz Basadien. The squad will be trimmed to 23 players early next month. South Africa is in Group B alongside Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-27-cents and the euro at 19-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-845-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-147-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….