News 08:00

BULLETIN 9 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament is concerned by StatsSA’s high staff turnover
# Israeli troops have boarded the Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg
# And golf: Samuel Simpson wins the Mopani Zambia Open

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation has expressed concern about financial constraints and vacancies at Statistics South Africa. The agency has about 720 vacant posts, a vacancy rate of 21.8-percent, which is affecting its ability to perform its core functions and its capacity to meet data needs for policy-making. Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke has warned that the situation was critical. The committee has urged StatsSA to develop a strategy for retaining skilled workers and to explore partnerships to enhance data collection and statistical capabilities.

# The Auditor General, Tsakani Maluleke, has denied allegations of corruption by some of their auditors in the Free State. This comes after ActionSA alleged that senior AG Free State figures collaborated with Centlec employees and consultants to falsify audit outcomes and sanitise reports. The reports were intended to expose widespread financial mismanagement and fraud within the Mangaung municipal entity. Auditor General’s spokesperson, Harold Maloka, says audits are subject to stringent internal and external processes to ensure adherence to ethical and auditing standards:

# Western Cape provincial police taxi violence unit detectives are offering a 100-thousand-rand reward for anyone who can come with information on the shooting at the Mfuleni taxi rank in Cape Flats on Friday morning. Police spokesperson, Novela Potelwa says four people were shot and killed and three injured when two gunmen entered a small office at the rank and opened fire. She says one of the injured is believed to be a commuter:

# The Israeli military boarded the Gaza-bound Madleen of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is carrying humanitarian aid and human rights defenders, including climate activist Greta Thunberg. The vessel left Sicily on Friday. Israel’s foreign ministry says the yacht was told to change course due to its approach toward a restricted area. It says a blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas militants in Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has accused Israel of forcibly intercepting the Madleen and acting with total impunity.

# Golf: South Africa’s Samuel Simpson secured his first victory on the Sunshine Tour by winning the Mopani Zambia Open at the Nkana Golf Club in Zambia. He won by one shot on eleven-under-par after carding a final round 69. Simpson’s compatriot Herman Loubser finished second on ten-under-par. South Africans Luke Jerling, JJ Senekal, and Lyle Rowe shared third place on nine under par. This season, Simpson is the second maiden winner on the Sunshine Tour, following Luis Carrera from Mexico.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-77-cents and the euro at 20-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-532-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-304-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….