News 07:00
BULLETIN 29 November 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Amcu is calling for negligent mine bosses to be charged with culpable homicide
# More hostages and prisoners are released on day five of the truce between Israel and Hamas
# And rugby, the Blitzboks arrive in Dubai for the start of the new season
# The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union says negligent mine bosses should be charged with culpable homicide in cases of workers dying while on site. This comes after eleven mineworkers died at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg in the North West on Monday. An elevator transporting mineworkers up and down the shaft unexpectedly dropped 200 metres. Amcu president, Joseph Mathunjwa, says this disaster could have been avoided:
# Eskom has announced the World Bank’s consent for the legal separation of its Transmission Division, marking a significant step in the power utility’s turnaround plan. Subject to conditions, this move is described as a key aspect of Eskom’s strategic objectives and crucial for new grid access, encouraging investment in the generation sector, and improving the country’s energy security. The bank’s approval aligns with its broader commitment to supporting South Africa in promoting long-term energy security, including a recently approved development policy loan.
# The Western Cape government has lodged an intergovernmental dispute with National Treasury over 1.1-billion-rand budget cuts for the province. The dispute relates to the centrally negotiated and agreed-to public-sector wage bill, which was implemented after the provincial Parliament approved the annual budget, leading to unprecedented in-year budget cuts. Premier Alan Winde says all they want is a fair budget allocation:
# The Freedom Front Plus says it is not surprised that the Gauteng ANC government has been unable to commit itself to a fixed timeline for abolishing the e-toll system. MEC for Finance Jacob Mamabolo says a proposal to pay the province’s portion of the e-tolls debt will be submitted next month. The FF Plus says premier Panyaza Lesufi had promised this time last year that e-toll would be abolished by 2022. It says the reality is that the e-toll system is still fully operational and road users are still receiving bills.
# Twelve more hostages, comprising ten Israelis and two Thai citizens, have been released by Gaza’s Hamas militants. In return, 30 Palestinians have been freed from Israeli jails. A total of 81 hostages held in Gaza have now been released during a truce between Israel and Hamas. Sixty-one of them are Israeli, and all of them are women and children. Israel has in total freed 180 Palestinians from prison, mainly women and minors, and many of whom were detained but never charged.
# Rugby: The Blitzboks arrived in Dubai for this weekend’s new Sevens season-opening tournament. South Africa had been very successful in the United Arab Emirates and will be aiming for an 11th tournament win. Blitzbok flyhalf Justin Geduld is the most experienced member of the squad and will play in his 55th Sevens tournament. Geduld last travelled to Dubai in 2020 and says it is good to be back:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-54-cents and the euro at 20-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-919-dollars-85-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-47-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-47-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….