News 08:00

BULLETIN 2 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Build One South Africa will take legal action against the government to ensure it complies with the load-shedding ruling
# Equal Education urges a review of the BELA Bill
# And, Joe Biden approves sanctions for Israeli settlers accused of violence in the occupied West Bank [SOUND]

# Build One South Africa says the government is at risk of becoming a frivolous litigant. Last month, the High Court in Pretoria ordered Electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to ensure that all public health institutions, public schools, and police stations, are exempted from planned power cuts, setting a deadline for the 31st of January. The Department of Public Enterprises lodged an urgent appeal against the ruling. BOSA leader, Mmusi Maimane, says they will take legal steps to ensure the government adheres to the court order.

# Learner rights organisation, Equal Education, urges government to address concerns in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill before its finalisation. Public hearings on the BELA bill concluded this week. It is aimed at updating basic education laws but faces criticism for potentially criminalising parents and caregivers who don’t send children to school. Equal Education Law Centre researcher Katherine Sutherland calls on the National Council of Provinces to amend certain aspects for a balanced education law:

# The Office of the Auditor-General says accusations that it had not completed the Ekurhuleni Municipality’s 2022-2023 audit report within the stipulated timeframe are unfortunate and misleading. Mayoral committee member of Finance, Nkululeko Dunga, accused the auditor general’s office of holding up the process of tabling its annual financial statements before the council by not delivering the report to the municipality. The AG’s office says the municipality’s management had raised a dispute with the national audit office regarding their audit outcome, which caused a delay in tabling the report.

# US president, Joe Biden, has issued an executive order targeting Israeli settlers who engage in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Some 370 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October last year. US State Department’s spokesperson, Matt Miller, says the executive order imposes financial sanctions and visa bans against four individuals involved in acts of violence in the West Bank, as well as threats and attempts to destroy or seize Palestinian property:

# Cricket: MI Cape Town defeated Pretoria Capitals by 34 runs in a high-scoring SA20 encounter in Centurion. The tournament’s leading run-scorer, Ryan Rickelton, scored 90 off 45 balls and shared a 64-run opening stand with, Rassie van der Dussen, as MI Cape Town posted 248 for four. In reply, an unbeaten 116 from Kyle Verreynne, the highest-ever score of the tournament, was not enough for the Pretoria Capitals as they fell short making 214 for eight at the end of their 20 overs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-56-cents and the euro at 20-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 43-thousand-38-dollars-43-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-54-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….