News 11:00

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Public Protector advocates the criminalising of the non-implementation of recommendations
# Sanral welcomes the dismissal of Outa’s application for access to N3TC documents
# And, Israel says the Al-Shifa Hospital is possibly the beating heart of Hamas

# Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has revealed plans to criminalise the non-implementation of recommendations or remedial actions within its purview. Her office, empowered to investigate and remedy improper conduct in state affairs, aims to bolster the effectiveness of its recommendations by introducing potential legal consequences for non-implementation. Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club, Gcaleka highlighted the challenge in enforcing such a measure. She acknowledged the complexity of this endeavour, emphasising the need for robust mechanisms in achieving this objective:

Play sound: 

# The South African National Roads Agency has welcomed the Gauteng High Court’s decision to dismiss with costs an application by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse for access to information. Outa wanted access to documents related to a tender awarded to private concessionaire N3TC. The private company won a contract for the construction and management of a portion of the N3 highway between Heidelberg south interchange in Gauteng and Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal. Sanral’s Vusi Mona says the disclosure of the documents would cause harm to N3TC.

# ActionSA has welcomed the Special Investigating Unit’s proclamation to look into the corrupt awarding of contracts by the Lepelle Northern Water and Gauteng Department of Human Settlements to Blackhead Consulting. The company is owned by ANC-affiliated businessperson Edwin Sodi. ActionSA’s, Malaika Ditabo, says lacking the necessary experience and qualifications to oversee the upgrade, the company was dishonestly awarded the 290-million-rand contract to renovate phase one of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works in Tshwane:

Play sound: 

# The Israel Defence Forces says the Al-Shifa Hospital may be the beating heart of Hamas. The Israeli military has been carrying out a precise and targeted operation against the terrorist group at the hospital in Gaza. Both Israel and the US claim that Hamas has a command base under the Al-Shifa Hospital, which it has denied. IDF spokesperson, Peter Lerner, told CNN that the goal is to seek out Hamas wherever they are hiding and the hospital compound is a central hub of their operations:

Play sound: 

# Rugby: Incoming Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney has vowed that all of the recommendations from the independent review report will be implemented. The review found aspects of the union culture were sexist, misogynistic, racist homophobic and not properly challenged. Thirty-six recommendations covering governance, complaints handling, the union’s approach to inclusion and diversity, and investment in the women’s game, have been made. Tierney says the report is incredibly humbling and describes issues, actions and attitudes that are hugely regrettable.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 35-thousand-646-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-969-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….