News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# SADTU is calling for more funded teaching posts
# Forum for South Africa expects practical solutions to South Africa’s economic challenges
# And, ActionSA criticises the EFF for opening a criminal case against the Tshwane mayor

# Teachers union SADTU says the medium-term budget policy statement must demonstrate a clear political and fiscal commitment to creating decent jobs, alleviating poverty and ensuring that every learner and educator has the resources and opportunities needed to thrive. Last year’s budget saw cuts to the School Infrastructure Backlogs Grant. SADTU’s spokesperson Nomusa Cembi says they expect Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to make provision for the expansion of funded teaching posts, enabling the absorption of unemployed educators into the system:

Meanwhile, the Forum for South Africa says it expects the minister to present practical solutions to South Africa’s economic challenges, particularly slow economic growth, high unemployment and the rising cost of living when he tables the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament today. Forum leader Tebogo Mashilompane says National Treasury must prioritise meaningful relief for low-income households facing rising fuel, food, transport and electricity prices:

# ActionSA in Tshwane says the EFF is entitled to demand accountability, but it cannot pretend to be an opposition party in a government in which it serves. This comes as the EFF has opened a criminal case against Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya and the City Manager over the failure to chlorinate water at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant. This has led to 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness. ActionSA’s Henriette Frohlich says the EFF must also account for its own participation in the executive:

# The United Nations Human Rights warns that conflicts globally are driving acute hunger in 12 of the 13 current hunger hotspots. Today, 1.4 million people in six countries face catastrophic conditions, nine times more than in 2016, and 266-million people face acute hunger every day, in countries including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen and Gaza. UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk says restrictions on humanitarian aid and attacks on aid workers are cutting off the last lifelines for people in war-torn countries.

# Soccer: Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain continued their perfect start with a 4-2 victory against Barcelona in France. Goals from Desire Doue, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz saw PSG move joint top of the league phase table. Liverpool also made it three wins from three after beating Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield. Phil Foden scored a hat-trick to guide Manchester City to a 5-1 victory against AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium. Napoli secured their first win, beating Bodø/Glimt 4-3, while ten-man Atlético Madrid managed a one-all draw against Stuttgart.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents and the euro at 18-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-731-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-124-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….