News 06:00

BULLETIN 11 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Floyd Shivambu vows to make the MK Party formidable
# The National Treasury warns of the impact of income tax on the basic income grant
# And rugby: The Springboks record their ninth consecutive victory over Scotland

# Former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu has vowed to help the MK Party become a formidable organisation that can win elections outright. MK Party president Jacob Zuma appointed him as the party’s secretary-general, taking over the reins from Sifiso Maseko, who resigned last week. Maseko returned to his job in the Gauteng Department of Health. Shivambu told the SABC that he will serve the party with the utmost respect and honesty:

# National Treasury has cautioned against implementing a permanent basic income grant, citing serious tax implications. Treasury says the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant currently costs taxpayers 40-billion-rand yearly, a figure projected to reach 171-billion-rand by 2032 if made permanent. Treasury’s Edgar Sishi highlighted that a universal grant could cost up to 400-billion-rand annually, potentially requiring major tax hikes.

# Postbank has assured social grant beneficiaries that their SASSA gold cards will remain valid until they receive the new Postbank Black Card. This follows a confusion over the card’s expiration date set for 31 December. According to Sassa, a nationwide rollout of the black card has begun in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Cape, and North West provinces. Postbank says beneficiaries can continue using gold cards during the transition, as they enhance security and compliance. Home delivery of new cards for bedridden recipients will also be introduced soon.

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says a provincial strategy has been developed to strengthen the implementation of by-laws and regulations governing spaza shops and other food vendors. The province has recorded 441 food-borne illness cases with 23 deaths. The premier met with executive council members, municipal leaders, and department heads yesterday, to coordinate a provincial response. Lesufi stressed the urgent need to enforce food safety standards across the province:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, is leading a South African delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan this week. COP29 is expected to intensify efforts to quantify resources for developing countries to meet ambitious climate targets under this year’s theme of In Solidarity for a Green World. George says the conference occurs at a critical moment of intensifying geopolitical tensions, heightened trade protectionist measures, and divisive approaches on issues such as carbon border adjustments.

# Rugby: The Springboks defeated Scotland 32-15 at Murrayfield, their ninth successive victory over the hosts. Makazole Mapimpi scored two first-half tries for South Africa, with Thomas du Toit adding a third and Jasper Wiese a late fourth. Scotland were restricted to 15 points from the boot of Finn Russell. This victory sees the Boks return to the top of the world rankings. Captain Eben Etzebeth described the Test match as tough:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-62-cents and the euro at 18-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-524-dollar-71-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-683-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….