News 13:00
BULLETIN 10 November 1 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# A National Council of Provinces committee urges newly elected councillors to prioritise service delivery
# A forum welcomes the Madlanga Commission’s subpoenas for high-profile individuals, including Mchunu
# And: The Commission on Drugs is advocating for fewer prison sentences for non-violent drug use
# The National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration is calling on newly elected councillors to prioritise service delivery and stability. There are over 100 hung municipalities following the local government elections, which will require the formation of coalition governments. Committee chairperson Mxolisi Kaunda says the new councillors have an opportunity to build on the gains made since the advent of democracy, while addressing persistent challenges and maladministration affecting municipalities. He adds that South Africans deserve functional municipalities that are responsive to the needs of communities.
# The Forum for South Africa has welcomed the Madlanga Commission’s announcement that several prominent witnesses are expected to appear before it under subpoena in the coming weeks. The individuals include suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and the police’s Crime Intelligence Divisional Commissioner Dumisani Khumalo. FORUM4SA leader Tebogo Mashilompane says Mchunu’s appearance will present an opportunity for him to answer allegations of political interference and the unauthorised distribution of a classified Inspector-General of Intelligence report:
# The Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs is pushing for practical alternatives to imprisonment for people convicted of drug use and minor possession offences. South Africa is a transit, consumption and production hub of illicit drugs, with several massive methamphetamine factories with alleged links to Mexican cartels recently being uncovered in the country. Former president Kgalema Motlanthe, who is the commission’s chairperson, says prohibition and criminalisation make it harder to assist drug users:
# US president Donald Trump says the FBI is looking into Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s affair with an alleged Chinese spy. New York Times last month alleged the 63-year-old had a close relationship with a businesswoman who passed information to Beijing. Nvidia, the world’s second-largest company and a poster child for the artificial intelligence boom, has launched its own investigation. Trump believes the tech billionaire’s assertion he knew nothing about the alleged espionage operation:
# Rugby: Ireland’s hooker, Dan Sheehan, is facing a race against time to be fit for next weekend’s Nations Championship clash with South Africa in Dublin. He sustained a concussion while captaining his country during last Friday’s victory over Argentina and will miss Saturday’s match against Fiji. New Zealand-born flanker Sean Jansen will miss the rest of the tournament after injuring his knee against Los Pumas and was sent back to his club team, Connacht. Veteran centre Bundee Aki returns from illness, which kept him out of the clash with Argentina.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 18-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-319-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-93-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-91-sents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….