News 09:00

BULLETIN 6 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Centre for Development and Enterprise urges the appointment of competent senior officials in public entities
# Treasury reports over 10-billion-rand in unpaid government invoices
# And, rugby: The Currie Cup Premier Division is in full swing

# The Centre for Development and Enterprise has called for streamlined government processes and top-quality appointments in senior public service positions. Director Ann Bernstein criticises president Cyril Ramaphosa’s expanded cabinet, emphasising that larger cabinets hinder decision-making and accountability. She advises prioritising economic reforms, addressing the fiscal crisis, and leveraging public-private partnerships to combat poverty and boost economic growth.

# The National Treasury reports that over ten-billion-rand in invoices from the 2023/24 financial year remain unpaid by national and provincial governments. Despite laws mandating payment within 30 days, more than one-thousand-400 invoices are overdue. Chief director Moipone Ramoipone confirms that the Departments of Justice and of Public Works are the worst offenders. Ramoipone cites issues like misfiled invoices and cash-flow problems, recommending disciplinary actions and heightened oversight to address these delays:

# The ANC Youth League in Gauteng has called on the government of provincial unity to prioritise crime reduction and youth development. League convener Ntsako Mogobe emphasises the need to include youth voices in decision-making to ensure their challenges are addressed. He warns that excluding youth undermines efforts to promote empowerment and involvement, which is crucial for building a dynamic and responsible administration:

# Rugby: The Currie Cup Premier Division is in full swing, with the Cheetahs hosting the Griffons in Bloemfontein this afternoon. Tomorrow, Cape Town will be the stage for the traditional battle between Western Province and the Bulls. Yesterday, the Pumas beat Griquas 44-24 in Kimberley, while the Lions were victorious over the Sharks in Durban, with the score 26-25. The final of the age-old competition will be played on 21 September.

# And, in a country long dominated by a ruling class disproportionately educated at private schools and Oxford and Cambridge universities, Britain’s new deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, stands out. The 44-year old is a former care worker who had a baby at the age of 16 and left her state-run school with barely any qualifications. From an early age she took responsibility for caring for her mother, while her father was absent much of the time. Rayner became a grandmother at the age of 37, and says she has a PhD in real life.

Stay tuned for more news………….