News 08:00

BULLETIN 20 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Scopa is concerned over the Department of Defence’s audit
# Donald Trump picks a celebrity TV doctor to head Medicaid
# And tennis: It is the end of an era as Rafael Nadal leaves the court

# Parliament’s standing committee on Public Accounts has resolved to call minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, to respond to issues emanating from the department’s 2023/2024 financial year audit outcomes. The Auditor-General briefed Scopa on the department’s audit outcomes and Denel’s. Scopa chairperson, Songezo Zibi, says of concern is a string of material irregularities in which senior officials failed to hold those responsible accountable either for maladministration, misconduct, or failure to meet performance objectives:

# The EFF says the ANC government has systematically failed to protect women, with ineffective policies and a lack of resources for shelters, counselling and legal aid. The party was responding to the findings of the Human Sciences Research Council’s first national gender-based violence study. The study confirms that 35.5-percent of women aged 18 and older have endured physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. The EFF says the findings expose the violent reality that women live with daily in South Africa.

# Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, has emphasised various documents that should be in place for spaza shop registration. These requirements include municipal payments and zoning certificates, amongst others. This follows president Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive to register spaza shops within 21 days. The MEC say this will ensure legal operations while safeguarding public health:

# US president-elect Donald Trump picked television personality and cardiothoracic surgeon doctor Mehmet Oz to serve as the administrator for the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This key federal agency oversees health insurance coverage for more than 150 million Americans. The agency regulates health insurance and sets policy that guides the prices that doctors, hospitals, and drug companies are paid for medical services. Trump says he is confident Oz will fight to ensure everyone in America receives the best possible healthcare.

# Tennis: Rafael Nadal’s illustrious career has ended after Spain lost to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Botic van de Zandschulp defeated the 22-time Grand Slam champion, 6-4, 6-4, to put Netherlands one-nil ahead. Carlos Alcaraz levelled the tie for Spain with a, 7-6, 6-3, victory over Tallon Griekspoor. However, Wesley Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp beat Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles. Nadal says he achieved more than he ever dreamed:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-5-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-905-dollars-5-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-640-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….