News 11:00

BULLETIN 4 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament is seeking legal advice on the dissolution of the SA Tourism board
# Epstein abuse survivors want all files related to the convicted sex offender released
# And rugby: Jesse Kriel will captain the Boks against the All Blacks

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Tourism is seeking legal advice on the dissolution of the South African Tourism board. Tourism minister Patricia de Lille has defended her decision to dissolve the board, citing unlawful conduct, procedural violations, and reckless financial management as grounds for intervention. However, she has been accused of ignoring governance and public financial management policies. Committee chairperson Ronalda Nalumango has urged De Lille to reconsider her decision and to reinstate the board.

# AfriForum has welcomed government’s extension of the public submission period on the Basic Education Laws Amendment draft regulations. The deadline which was set for tomorrow, has been pushed to 5 October. AfriForum’s Alana Bailey says the extra time allows stakeholders to provide thorough input on school admissions and capacity rules. She confirmed that AfriForum is finalising its comments to ensure regulations align with public school realities:

Meanwhile, the DA in Gauteng says learners remain at risk due to the shocking failure to vet teachers and staff in schools. Teachers have been implicated in allegations of sexual abuse and improper conduct involving learners at Bronkhorstspruit Primary School and Princehof School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The DA’s Sergio Isa dos Santos says they will table questions to Education MEC Matome Chiloane to ascertain the steps, if any, taken by his department to strengthen vetting procedures:

Moving abroad:

# Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse say they support a bipartisan resolution to release all the files related to the late convicted sex offender. On Tuesday, 33-thousand pages and several videos related to Epstein were made public by the US House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee. Most of the files, however, were already in the public domain. Speaking on the steps of the US Capitol, survivor Lisa Phillips said they have begun compiling a confidential list of Epstein associates who they say were involved in abuse:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named Jesse Kriel as captain for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand, with Siya Kolisi at number 8. Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting line-up for his 136th Test, alongside Ruan Nortjé at lock. Pieter-Steph du Toit is back at flanker. The only change in the backline is at fullback, where Willie le Roux will start his 101st Test. Ethan Hooker joins the replacements alongside Kwagga Smith and Cobus Reinach in a five-three split on the bench.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-481-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-536-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….