News 07:00
BULLETIN 21 November 7 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Julius Malema says the hearings of the Powers and Privileges Committee are a kangaroo court
# Judgment is anticipated in the 2.2-billion-rand Kusile strike-out matter
# And, the African Union chairperson has called Israel’s actions in Gaza inexcusable
# The EFF says it will approach the courts to interdict what it calls the sham proceedings of the Powers and Privileges Committee. The committee began its hearing into the State of the Nation address incident yesterday, in which EFF members of Parliament stormed onto the stage as they were ordered to leave the chamber. EFF leader Julius Malema says the proceedings are nothing but a compromised weapon in defence of president Cyril Ramaphosa. He also attacked the initiator Parliament appointed, advocate Anton Katz:
# The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Mpumalanga is set to decide today whether there was an unreasonable delay in the 2.2-billion-rand Kusile power station matter. The case stems from corruption allegations surrounding a tender. The accused include former Eskom interim CEO Matshela Koko, his wife and two stepdaughters, and lawyer Johannes Coetzee. Magistrate Stanley Jacobs determined in March the Investigating Directorate should be ready to proceed with the trial in September, but they asked for another postponement. Lawyers then asked for charges to be dropped.
# The Asset Forfeiture Unit in Mpumalanga says it has obtained a provisional preservation of property order in the Mbombela High Court, seizing assets to the estimated value of more than 1.5-billion-rand. This is the result of a joint multi-agency investigation between the specialised police illegal mining unit, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, and other law enforcement agencies. National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, says assets seized include a farm in the Carolina District, heavy-duty mining machinery and heaps of coal:
# Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile says efforts to reduce serious violent crime are continuing despite challenges. He released the province-specific crime statistics for the second quarter of 2023/2024 yesterday. Murders have increased by 10.9-percent year on year between July and September. During the three months, there were one-thousand-164 murders recorded in the province. Patekile says contributing factors relate to gang violence, extortion, and drug and alcohol use. He adds that they intend to deploy additional law enforcement and safety agencies to hotspot areas and strengthen the Anti-Gang Unit.
# The African Union says Israel’s response to Hamas’s deadly attack last month is inexcusable, warning that civilian casualties would fuel further extremism. Over 14-thousand people have been killed since the conflict between Israel and Palestine started last month. African Union chairperson Azali Assoumani says they condemn all actions that harm civilians, especially children. He has called for stronger efforts for a diplomatic solution, stressing that there will be no peace in the region unless a two-state solution can be reached.
# Rugby: Welsh Rugby Union chairperson Richard Collier-Keywood has promised the governing body will produce an overarching strategy next year. This follows an independent review that found aspects of the union’s culture were sexist, misogynistic, racist and homophobic and not properly challenged. The report also said the WRU environment had elements of bullying and discrimination. Collier-Keywood told BBC that they need to be really clear on what is acceptable going forward in the organisation:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-602-dollars-13-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-989-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-10-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….