News 09:00

BULLETIN 28 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government is implementing transformative initiatives to support local government
# The MK Party criticises the judiciary over the delay of the Phala Phala judgment
# And rugby: Gregor Townsend retains his position as Scotland coach until the World Cup

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the government is committed to establishing a capable, ethical, and developmental state. He delivered the keynote address on the closing day of the  South African Local Government Association’s National Members Assembly in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday. Mashatile says that initiatives like phase two of Operation Vulindlela outline the government’s strategy to address economic challenges and support local governments:

# The MK Party says it is appalled by the nonchalant attitude of the judiciary regarding the year-long delay in delivering the Phala Phala judgment. The EFF is seeking an order to overturn Parliament’s decision not to adopt the findings of the section 89 independent panel. The panel concluded that president Cyril Ramaphosa had a case to answer following the 2020 break-in at his Limpopo game farm. The MK Party’s spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, says this delay forms part of a troubling pattern of selective justice:

# ActionSA in Tshwane has welcomed the completion of the forensic investigation into deputy mayor Eugene Modise. Earlier this year, the metro commissioned an investigation into Modise and Triotic Protection Services, after accusations that he was benefiting from a company doing business with the metro. The investigation reportedly implicated Modise in a conflict of interest concerning Triotic. ActionSA’s Henriette Frohlich says the findings will be addressed:

# Russian president Vladimir Putin says the war in Ukraine will only end once troops withdraw from the territories Moscow occupies. These include the southern Crimean Peninsula, annexed in 2014, and the eastern Donbas region. The occupied territories, alongside security guarantees for Ukraine, are the biggest sticking point between Moscow and Kyiv. Putin says the US peace plan could become the basis for a future agreement to end the war. However, he added that it was necessary to discuss certain specific points in diplomatic language.

# Rugby: The rugby coach of Scotland, Gregor Townsend, will stay on as national coach until after the World Cup, after the head of Scottish Rugby, Alex Williamson, has declared him the “best man for the job”. Townsend has been under pressure after his team’s lukewarm performance in the Autumn Nations series, beating the USA and Tonga but losing to both New Zealand and Argentina after being in a position to win both those crucial matches. Townsend has been severely criticised by the media and supporters who feel he has taken the national team as far as he can.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-396-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-185-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-90-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….