News 13:00

BULLETIN 29 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The JSC recommends an impeachment inquiry into former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng
# Siviwe Gwarube urges government to prioritise education funding amid budget cuts
# And tennis: Carlos Alcaraz says the prize money attracted him to the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia

# The Judicial Service Commission’s conduct committee has advised an impeachment inquiry into former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. This follows allegations from former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe, claiming Mogoeng held a secret meeting with deputy judge president Patricia Goliath concerning misconduct accusations against Hlophe. The committee says if proven, this could amount to dishonesty, tarnishing the judiciary’s reputation. The JSC’s smaller, non-political group will decide whether the inquiry proceeds. Meanwhile, Mogoeng denies any wrongdoing.

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube is urging government to prioritise education funding as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana prepares for the mid-term budget policy statement. Gwarube warns that proposed budget cuts, which could see two-thousand-400 teaching jobs lost in the Western Cape in 2025, threaten the quality of education. She also calls on MECs to curb wasteful expenditure and meet their education obligations:

# The DA has urged the Southern African Development Community to demand an independent recount of Mozambique’s recent presidential election. They allege that the process was plagued by widespread irregularities and political violence, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the declared victory of Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo. The DA’s Emma Louise Powell states that reports of vote tampering, intimidation, and the assassination of key opposition advisers have heightened concerns about the state of democracy in Mozambique: 

# Tennis: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz says the record prize money at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia earlier this month was a motivation for playing. Italian rival Jannik Sinner dismissed earlier claims that he joined the exhibition event for financial rewards, emphasising he went to Riyadh for the sporting challenge. However, Alcaraz acknowledged the financial aspect played a role as he earned more than 26-million-rand over four days. He says although he mostly plays for love or fun, he must think about money too.  

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-221-dollars-26-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-755-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A woman who went missing on a solo hike in Australia’s Snowy Mountains was found dazed and injured, after suffering a suspected snake bite while missing for nearly two weeks. Authorities conducted a search for six days. The 48-year-old Lovisa Sjoberg was found on a bush trail in the Kosciuszko National Park, southwest of the capital, Canberra. Police say she was fortunate to be alive after a suspected bite by a venomous copperhead. It can deliver a painful and potentially deadly bite.

Stay tuned for more news………….