News 09:00
BULLETIN 21 November 9 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Sakeliga accuses the Department of Agriculture of secretly implementing an AgriBEE plan
# Minister Nzimande will provide details today on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme application process opening this week
# And, Africa4Palestine welcomes the recall of Israel’s ambassador to South Africa
# Sakeliga says the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development has quietly developed and partially implemented an unlawful AgriBEE enforcement plan. The business organisation says it has obtained documentation of the plan, which poses a substantial medium-term risk to agricultural production, imports and exports, and food security in South Africa. Sakeliga’s CEO, Piet le Roux, says the AgriBEE enforcement plan will restrict imports and exports based on the racial makeup of companies:
# Funding applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for the next academic year are set to open this week. Despite challenges leading to delayed allowances, thousands of prospective students can apply for funding to study at public higher education institutions. Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande is expected to provide details on the application process today. The two-month application period will last until the end of January, allowing for the completion of the South African Revenue Service’s tax period. Prospective students are urged to apply promptly to avoid last-minute rushes.
# The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services is monitoring the fire in the De Wet area outside Worcester, in the direction of De Doorns. The municipality’s spokesperson, Jo-Anne Otto, says the fire is currently burning in the very high and inaccessible peaks and gullies of the mountains above the farms. She says the fire is being fuelled by a combination of strong winds and aged veld. Otto adds that a total of six fire vehicles and crews will stay in the area for monitoring:
# Human rights non-governmental organisation, Africa4Palestine, has welcomed Israel’s decision to recall its ambassador to South Africa Eliav Belotserkovsky. This comes days after president Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that the country had filed a referral against Israel to the International Criminal Court over its military campaign in Gaza. There have also been calls for the Israeli embassy in South Africa to be closed. Africa4Palestine says this marks a crucial step towards holding Apartheid Israel accountable for its violations of international law.
# Golf: Double PGA Tour champion Erik van Rooyen and Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel lead a strong field for the Alfred Dunhill Championship next month. The field boasts the winners of eight of the last nine editions of the tournament, including Schwartzel who has won a record four times. Ockie Strydom will attempt to become only the third player in Alfred Dunhill Championship history to successfully defend his title. The tournament will be from the seventh to the tenth of next month at the Leopard Creek Country Club in Mpumalanga.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-27-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-447-dollars-3-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-991-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-96-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….