News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Bheki Cele will testify before Parliament’s ad hoc committee today
# The Public Protector finds the establishment of the crime prevention wardens was irregular
# And Olympics: The IOC wants no sports events in Indonesia following their ban on Israeli athletes

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee is set to hear testimony from a new witness, former Police minister Bheki Cele, today and Friday. The committee is investigating allegations that criminals have infiltrated South Africa’s law enforcement, politics, and private businesses. Cele is expected to share insight into the 2019 work study, which established a new SAPS structure without the Political Killings Task Team, and which has been used by Police minister Senzo Mchunu as justification for his disbandment of the task team.

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, says government is set to introduce a new framework to guide and expand high-integrity carbon markets in South Africa. The objectives of the Draft Carbon Credit Revenue Plan include generating sustainable revenue by converting the country’s forests, wetlands, oceans, and protected landscapes into high-integrity carbon credits and reinforcing the country’s leadership in climate innovation. George says the draft framework is designed to create an enabling environment for credible, transparent, and socially inclusive carbon market activity.

# Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has found that the establishment and deployment of Gauteng’s crime prevention wardens to conduct policing was irregular and unconstitutional. The Public Protector released her investigative report on Wednesday evening, hours after premier Panyaza Lesufi announced the phased disbandment of the CPWs. A complaint from advocate Paul Hoffman prompted the investigation. Gcaleka told Newzroom Afrika that the law neither empowers nor confers upon the provincial government any authority to exercise policing powers:

# Israel has rejected the International Court of Justice’s latest advisory opinion, calling it a political document. In its non-binding opinion, the court said Israel is obliged to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by the United Nations and its entities. This is to ensure the basic needs of the Palestinian civilians are met. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, says the court’s opinion is shameful:

# Olympics: The International Olympic Committee has condemned Indonesia’s refusal to allow Israeli athletes to participate in the ongoing World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta. This is because of the country’s military offensive in Gaza. In response, the IOC says all international sports federations will be told not to host any events or meetings in Indonesia. The IOC has also decided to end any form of dialogue with the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia about hosting the 2030 Youth Olympics and the 2036 Olympic Games.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-42-cents and the euro at 20-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-731-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-95-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….