News 11:00

BULLETIN 2 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Julius Malema demands the release of the Special Investigating Unit’s report on the Treasury
# The Health Department says the several incidents of food poisoning were caused by a chemical agent
# And cricket: The Protea captain says they were outplayed by New Zealand in yesterday’s T20 World Cup final

# EFF leader Julius Malema has written to president Cyril Ramaphosa demanding the release of the Special Investigating Unit’s report on the National Treasury’s one-billion-rand contract for the Integrated Financial Management System. The Auditor-General told Parliament last week the tender, awarded fraudulently to Oracle, has resulted in financial losses exceeding 400-million-rand. The EFF says this is a clear case of corruption and financial mismanagement. It adds that Ramaphosa withholding the SIU’s report undermines transparency and accountability.

# The Department of Health says the recent spate of food-related sudden illnesses and deaths, especially in schools, is concerning. The Gauteng Health Department has documented a total of 203 food poisoning cases this year, resulting in six fatalities. In Limpopo, 35 learners were treated for suspected food poisoning about a week ago. The department’s national spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says a meeting of six organs of state, including the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, concluded that these outbreaks are caused by a chemical agent:

# ActionSA in Johannesburg is calling on mayor Dada Morero to remove Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda from all his executive roles. The former Johannesburg mayor is out on bail after being arrested in Soweto on Friday for his alleged involvement in an alleged funeral policy scam. ActionSA’s Khomo Mashala says Gwamanda’s removal will allow him to address the charges brought against him without jeopardising his office:

# Israeli Foreign minister, Israel Katz, says they will pursue diplomatic and legal action against France over its decision to ban Israeli companies whose weapons are being used in Gaza and Lebanon from participating in a top Naval warfare trade fair next month. Katz described the boycott as an anti-democratic measure that was not acceptable, especially between friendly nations. This comes as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, last month called for an arms embargo on Israel.

# Cricket: Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt admits they were outplayed by New Zealand in yesterday’s Women’s T20 World Cup final in Dubai. The White Ferns won by 32 runs, inflicting a second successive defeat in a final on South Africa. New Zealand posted 158 for five in their 20 overs with Amelia Kerr top-scoring with 43. In reply, the Proteas were restricted to 126 for nine. Wolvaardt says they did not play their best cricket against a quality opponent:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-627-dollars-14-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-730-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….