News 09:00

BULLETIN 13 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The FF Plus says the bold steps taken in the budget are encouraging
# Minister Mchunu’s chief of staff will testify at Parliament’s ad hoc committee today
# And Venezuela mobilises its forces as America’s largest warship arrives in the region

# The Freedom Front Plus says the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement has met several key expectations, despite difficult and constrained circumstances. Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana tabled the budget in Parliament on Wednesday. The FF Plus’ Heloïse Denner says one of the most significant developments is the inflation target being adjusted to three-percent. She says this enhances competitiveness, reduces the debt burden, and promotes stability, but will require strict fiscal discipline to be sustainable:

# Tax Justice South Africa says government must follow through with criminal prosecutions after the South African Revenue Service suspended the licences of three cigarette manufacturers. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced the move during his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday. Tax Justice SA founder, Yusuf Abramjee, says they welcome government intensifying its clampdown on criminals looting the country of 28-billion-rand a year in tobacco excise taxes alone:

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee will today hear testimony from Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde. The committee is investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, including alleged criminal infiltration and political interference in the criminal justice system. Mkhwanazi has accused Nkabinde of being involved in efforts to undermine police independence, including signing letters on Mchunu’s behalf without full knowledge. Last month, Nkabinde claimed to have a target on his back after law enforcement officers raided his home and allegedly assaulted his brother.

# Venezuela Defence minister, Vladimir Padrino López, says they are launching a massive mobilisation of military personnel, weapons, and equipment. This comes as America’s largest warship arrived in the Caribbean on Tuesday. Padrino López has described the deployment as a response to the imperialist threat posed by the US build-up of warships and troops in the Caribbean Sea. America has so far carried out at least 19 strikes against boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, killing at least 76 people.

# Cricket: England’s captain, Ben Stokes, calls former players as has-beens for criticising their preparations for this season’s Ashes Series against Australia, starting in Perth next Friday. The visitors are playing a single three-day warm-up match against the England Lions’ touring team in the Western Australian city from today. Stokes reacted to criticism from former captains Ian Botham, Michael Vaughan, and Graham Gooch, saying their comments border on arrogance:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-39-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-966-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-209-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….