News 09:00

BULLETIN 6 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile says the Treasury is considering measures to ensure departments pay municipalities
# The High Court sets aside the removal of the MK Party members from its candidates’ list
# And the governor of California issues an  emergency proclamation following an earthquake

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the National Treasury is considering cutting budgets of departments that owe municipalities to settle debt. In August, Finance minister Enoch Godongwana revealed that organs of state collectively owe municipalities 18.6-billion-rand for rates and taxes. In Gauteng alone, the state had a debt of 3.5-billion-rand by the end of July, with provincial government departments accounting for most of the debt. Mashatile told the National Council of Provinces that non-payment of services cripples municipalities:

# Cosatu welcomes president Cyril Ramaphosa’s assenting of the Railway Safety Bill, saying this is a long overdue and important piece of legislation. The new law provides for the regulation of railway safety and the continued existence of the Railway Safety Regulator. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says they welcome the progressive objectives and provisions of the Bill, that seek to overhaul the often-weak health and safety provisions governing the country’s passenger and freight railway network:

# The MK Party says it has noted the Western Cape High Court ruling, setting aside its decision to remove members of the All African Alliance Movement from its candidates’ list and expelling them. This means the removed applicants must be reinstated and those put in their place must now be removed. The MK Party has been criticised for removing elected representatives to make way for figures such as John Hlophe, who serves as the official opposition’s leader in Parliament. The party says it is reviewing the judgement.

# A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California yesterday, triggering a brief tsunami warning for at least 5.3-million people living on the West Coast. The tsunami threat was later lifted. Thirty aftershocks were reported with more than ten-thousand people left without power in Humboldt County. The earthquake was among the largest recorded in California in recent years. California governor, Gavin Newsom, says officials are now turning their focus to the aftermath of this earthquake:

# Rugby: Springbok loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi says he’s happy to fight for a place in the Sharks’ starting fifteen, since the Durban team has immense depth. Buthelezi played his only Test for the Boks this year. He says he doesn’t mind playing anywhere in the back row, but prefers to wear the number eight jersey. He describes the competition for places among the loose forwards as good for everyone. The Sharks host Exeter Chiefs in Durban tomorrow at the start of the Champions Cup.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-2-cents and the euro at 19-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-600-dollars-84-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-642-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….