News 12:00

BULLETIN 17 September 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA says Ramaphosa must commit to implementing the Madlanga commission’s recommendations
# The National Parole Review Summit is set to mark a turning point for the justice system
# And cricket: Afghanistan’s exiled women’s team will play in India during the World Cup

# Build One South Africa is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to publicly commit to treating the Madlanga commission of inquiry’s findings and recommendations as if they were legally binding. The commission is beginning its work today, investigating claims of political interference within the police, made by KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The commission’s findings will not be legally binding. BOSA says citizens are feeling fatigued by repeated inquiries that do not result in real action or reform.

Meanwhile, the commission of inquiry into Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases has issued letters to current and former presidents, ministers of Police and Justice and national and provincial directors of Public Prosecutions. It is seeking evidence material, including documents and audio recordings relating to TRC cases referred by the Amnesty Committee to the commission for investigation. Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the commission in May to look into the reasons behind the delays in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes.

# The Department of Correctional Services says the upcoming National Parole Review Summit will mark a turning point for South Africa’s criminal justice system. Many citizens believe the country’s parole system leans too heavily towards offenders, often overlooking the needs and voices of victims. The department’s spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says parole, at its core, is a test of whether rehabilitation has taken root, and whether reintegration into society can be achieved safely and sustainably:

# The Public Servants Association agrees with minister of Public Service and Administration, Mzamo Buthelezi, that South Africa’s public servants are underpaid, overworked, and demoralised. The country has around 1.7 million public servants. PSA’s Claude Naicker says the recent 5.5-perecnt salary increase for public servants, though above inflation, does not adequately compensate for years of stagnant wages, rising living costs, and increasing workloads:

# Cricket: Afghanistan’s exiled women’s players will tour India during the one-day World Cup, where they will play against domestic teams. Most of the cricketers fled to Australia when the Taliban regime returned in 2021 and banned women and girls from participating in sports, education and employment. The team will also be invited to watch some of the World Cup matches. Afghanistan’s women played in a historic exhibition match against a Cricket Without Borders-eleven in Melbourne in January.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-39-cents and the euro at 20-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-7-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-664-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….