News 06:00

BULLETIN 4 November 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GNU retreat signals stronger unity and urgent action on national challenges
# The ICC is collecting evidence of mass killings and rapes committed in El-Fasher
# And cricket: The Proteas Men and Pakistan face off in their first ODI in Faisalabad today

# The leaders of the government of national unity have pledged faster action on municipal oversight, youth skills and employment, food security, and the fight against gangsterism. Leaders of the ten parties met for a two-day retreat at the Cradle of Humankind in Mogale City, in Gauteng. President Cyril Ramaphosa says the GNU remains united and focused on tackling unemployment, poverty, crime, corruption, and service delivery challenges:

# Hawks officer Sabelo Nkosi says he was forced to abandon a major operation in the North West to verify the arrest of alleged ‘Big Five’ crime boss Katiso “KT” Molefe in Sandton last December. Testifying before the Madlanga commission, Nkosi said he was instructed by his superior, Hawks brigadier Lesiba Mokoena, to confirm whether a legitimate police operation was taking place. He described the diversion as frustrating and disruptive:

# The Maanda Ashu Workers Union of South Africa alleges unfair contract execution for its members under the Expanded Public Works Programme. Members staged a march and submitted a memorandum of demands to the Department of Public Works headquarters in Pretoria yesterday. Union spokesperson Lumka Bekindawo provided details, highlighting grievances over employment conditions and calling for an urgent resolution to ensure fairness and transparency in EPWP contract management:

# Municipal union, Samwu, says it has been vindicated after the City of Tshwane’s application to avoid paying the 2021/2022 salary increases was dismissed. The South African Local Government Bargaining Council ordered the city to implement the 3.5-percent pay adjustment, including back pay, within six months. Samwu’s Dumisane Magagula is also calling for the reinstatement of 41 workers who were unfairly dismissed during the dispute. Magagula vows to keep fighting for the additional 5.4-percent wage increase.

# Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court are collecting evidence of alleged mass killings, rape used as a weapon of war, abductions, and other crimes in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher. The crimes were allegedly committed during the course of the Rapid Support Forces attacks in El-Fasher. The prosecutors have described the atrocities as part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region. They add that these may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

# Cricket: The Proteas Men and Pakistan face off in the first one-day match in Faisalabad today. Matthew Breetzke captains the team in the absence of Aiden Markram, who is rested before the tour of India. Pakistan clinched the T20 series 2-1 in the final match in Lahore on Saturday. The Test series, which started the tour, ended in a 1-all draw. Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad says he is disappointed in the T20 loss, but was pleased with the performance of some of the players.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-29-cents and the euro at 19-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 106-thousand-388-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-993-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….