News 06:00

BULLETIN 21 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF condemns Prasa’s negligence leading to a loss of billions
# Cricket: The Protea coach believes they can reach the final of the World Test Championship
# And Miss SA explains her withdrawal from Miss Universe

# The EFF says the collapse of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa is a direct assault on the working class and poor, who rely on affordable transportation. A high court report found that negligence in the rail agency’s integrated security project resulted in widespread theft and vandalism. This led to damage of 5.1-billion-rand. In the 2022/2023 financial year, Prasa haemorrhaged 3.8-billion-rand in irregular expenditure. The EFF says there is no political will within the ANC and the government of national unity to correct any of the injustices at Prasa.

# ActionSA urges South African Reserve Bank governor, Lesetja Kganyago, to reduce the interest rate by 50 basis points at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting. This comes after the latest inflation data showed a drop to 2.8-percent in October, the fifth consecutive decline. The party warns that financial distress persists, with over 35-billion-rand withdrawn from pensions. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley highlights low gross domestic product growth and potential Eskom tariff hikes as key concerns:

# AfriForum says Tshwane is facing a potential waste management crisis. They blame the 2019 closure of the Onderstepoort landfill for worsening the situation. The civil rights organisation is expanding its recycling efforts and is ready to work with the metro and stakeholders on sustainable solutions. AfriForum’s Lambert de Klerk calls for immediate action, including plans for new sites and capacity improvements:

# At least 50 Boko Haram fighters were killed and seven members of Nigeria’s infrastructure security force were missing following an insurgent ambush on a convoy monitoring the country’s power grid installations. Security operatives were ambushed by about 200 Boko Haram fighters during the patrol mission. According to Reuters efforts are underway to find the missing. Although Boko Haram mainly operates in the northeast, the group is said to have cells in the largely Muslim Niger state, where they have previously attacked the military and civilians.

# Cricket: Proteas coach Shukri Conrad says they are targeting a place in the final of the World Test Championship. South Africa is currently in fifth place in the standings and plays Sri Lanka in Durban in the first of two Tests from Wednesday. The visitors are currently in third place behind Australia and India, with New Zealand fourth. Conrad says although Sri Lanka is a very good side, the Proteas know if they play close to their ability, they will have a good chance to win.  

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-116-dollar-50-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-649-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux, has spoken out about her withdrawal from the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, saying she suffered from severe vertigo. This is a sensation of spinning or motion while not moving at all. The 28-year-old pulled out of the event during last Thursday’s preliminary competition over health concerns. In a video she shared on Instagram, Le Roux says while she was mentally strong enough to compete, physically, her body was taking strain:

Stay tuned for more news………….