News 12:00

BULLETIN 12 November 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Parliamentary committee calls for stronger consequences following Public Service lifestyle audits
# The Basic Education Department reports steady progress in the matric exams
# And swimming: Matthew Sates is also reportedly on the verge of representing another country

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on the Public Service and Administration has called for stronger evidence that lifestyle audits are leading to disciplinary action and criminal prosecutions where wrongdoing or corruption is established. It received briefings from Public Works and Infrastructure, Human Settlements, Health, Water and Sanitation, Home Affairs, and Agriculture. Chairperson Jan de Villiers says restoring public trust requires departments to demonstrate wrongdoing is being addressed through appropriate disciplinary measures, and criminal proceedings where warranted:

# The Department of Basic Education says the matric exams are progressing steadily, with marking preparations underway. Marking centres are expected to open between the 26th and the 28th of the month, with marking starting on December 1. Spokesperson Terence Khala says candidates must be cautious about potentially disruptive weather conditions which could lead to absenteeism. He says learners must remain focused and uphold examination integrity:

# The Afrika Mayibuye Movement has condemned South Africa’s persistently high unemployment levels, saying racial inequalities in employment remain unacceptably high. The official unemployment rate edged higher to 33.7-percent in the third quarter of this year, as recorded by the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. The movement says the unemployment crisis is rooted in the historical economic injustices of colonialism and apartheid. It argues that, despite political freedom, the economic exclusion of the African majority and other historically oppressed communities remains largely unresolved.

# The New York City Fire Department in the US has described the rescue mission following the collapse of a mixed-use three-storey building as extremely dangerous. At least two people have died, and more than 17 others were injured after the building collapsed into an open construction site in the central Brooklyn neighbourhood of Flatbush Avenue. The department’s commissioner, Lillian Bonsignore, says at least seven children are among the victims:

# Swimming: Former South African short-course world champion Matthew Sates is reportedly on the verge of representing Australia after securing his local residency in the country. The 23-year-old, who represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, wants better financial opportunities. This follows four-time Olympic medallist Tatjana Smith’s announcement that she is switching allegiance to the Netherlands. Sates, who holds several records in short course, including in the 200 metres freestyle, has trained with the Australian team, even though he is not formally part of it.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-511-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-956-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-78-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….