News 07:00

BULLETIN 29 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party urges Enoch Godongwana to prioritise economic growth in his budget speech
# The National Police Commissioner pledges enhanced police visibility during the festive season
# And a French court postpones Gérard Depardieu’s sexual assault trial

# The GOOD Party has called on Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to demonstrate his commitment to the Government of National Unity’s goals and prioritise inclusive economic growth. The Party emphasises the need for credible fiscal reforms and warns against further cuts to vital services like education and health. They stress that the Social Relief of Distress Grant should evolve into a Basic Income Grant to address escalating poverty and living costs in South Africa. The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement will be delivered on Wednesday.

# The  Presidency says South Africa has submitted evidence to the International Court of Justice at the Hague in the Netherlands, regarding alleged genocide by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. This submission includes a memorial with over 750 pages detailing claims that Israel has violated the Genocide Convention. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the evidence accuses Israel of harming Palestinians through military actions, denying them humanitarian aid, and creating conditions for their destruction: 

# National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has pledged to enhance police visibility during the festive season to ensure public safety. Coordinated patrols and targeted operations will be deployed to address the seasonal surge in criminal activities, with a focus on curbing violence during the holiday period. Masemola told the media that alongside this commitment, new initiatives and hotlines have been launched to combat extortion and violent crimes: 

# The DA’s Crezane Bosch will file a case with the Special Investigating Unit over a 9.7-million-rand tender by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety for 124 pistols, costing 78-thousand-rand each. Bosch says the DA believes this inflated pricing suggests corruption. In line with the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, the party is calling for an urgent investigation into the procurement process.

# Gérard Depardieu’s lawyer on Monday asked that the French actor’s sexual assault trial be postponed. Depardieu, who has denied any wrongdoing, is accused of using “violence, coercion, surprise or threat” in the alleged assaults of two women, which prosecutors said took place on a movie set in 2021. Depardieu’s lawyer said that doctors had decided the actor was not well enough to attend the proceedings, although he was eager to appear and defend himself before the court. The trial is a huge moment for the growing MeToo movement in France.

# Motorsport: McLaren believes Max Verstappen should have faced a harsher penalty than he received at the Mexican Grand Prix. Verstappen was penalised for over-aggressive driving in two incidents with Lando Norris. In both, he pushed the Briton off the circuit as he had in similar circumstances a week earlier in Austin during the United States Grand Prix. McLaren team chief Zak Brown praised the race stewards for handing Verstappen 20 seconds in penalties adding that it was probably not enough. The three-time world champion finished the race sixth.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-69-cents and the euro at 19-rand-14-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-996-dollar-34-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-751-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….