News 09:00

BULLETIN 27 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Auditor General has recovered financial losses of 3.39-billion-rand
# The PSA calls for urgent action following the fire at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital
# And Joe Biden says the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is a historic moment

# Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke says since the implementation of the material irregularity process in 2019, her office has managed to prevent or recover financial losses amounting to 3.39-billion-rand. She briefed Parliament on Tuesday on the audit outcomes of the national and provincial governments during the 2022/2023 financial year. Maluleke says the process has continued to contribute to improved accountability and oversight, as well as the protection of public resources:

# The Department of Basic Education says Grade 4 pupils will be taught maths in their mother tongue from next year. Mother tongue-based bilingual education has been piloted in schools in the Eastern Cape since 2010. Artificial intelligence will be used to ensure the success of the mother tongue-based bilingual education programme roll-out. The department’s, Seliki Tlhabane, says if the language of learning and teaching and the home language are the same, children are most likely to perform better:

# The Public Servants Association has expressed concerns about the maintenance of hospital infrastructure, and the adequacy of fire safety measures in public healthcare facilities. This follows a fire incident at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane last Saturday, which led to the evacuation of the intensive care unit. The PSA is calling for an immediate and comprehensive audit of the infrastructure at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, and all public healthcare facilities to identify and address fire hazards and other risks.

# US president Joe Biden says the 60-day ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. This has been Lebanon’s deadliest conflict in decades, killing more than three-thousand-823 people. Biden says the ceasefire will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes. He adds that lasting security for the people of Israel and Lebanon cannot be achieved only on the battlefield:

# Soccer: Manchester City threw away a three-goal lead to draw three-all against Feyenoord in their Champions League tie at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side is now on a run of six games without a win in all competitions. Arsenal got back to winning ways in the competition with a resounding five-one victory over Sporting. Robert Lewandowski became the third player to score 100 Champions League goals as Barcelona defeated Brest three-nil. There were also wins for AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Atalanta.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-652-dollars-79-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-637-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….