News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The High Court rejects a demand for disaster relief for the illegal miners in Stilfontein
# Learners are urged to refrain from attending pens-down parties
# And cricket: A massive victory for India in the first Test against Australia in Perth

# Police have welcomed a ruling by the High Court in Pretoria dismissing an application by the Society for the Protection of Our Constitution to compel it to provide aid, and rescue alleged illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West. Police maintain no miners are trapped, with over one-thousand-200 recently resurfacing. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says limited supplies like water and porridge have been sent underground, and medical staff are on standby:

# Home Affairs’ acting deputy director-general, Albert Matsaung, has clarified that the department’s role in immigration management does not include regulating specific businesses. Speaking to eNCA, Matsaung emphasised that their focus is verifying whether foreign nationals’ permits align with business activities. He explained that Home Affairs issues 17 permits under the Immigration Act, each specifying allowable actions, locations, and timeframes for permit holders:

# Umalusi has called for accountability following errors in the matric Geography Paper 2, administered by the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute. A total of 967 candidates were quarantined after it was discovered that 79 marks’ worth of questions contained errors. The incorrect paper was collected, and a corrected version was provided. SACAI apologised, and quality assurance processes have been amended to prevent future mistakes. Umalusi says it will review the incident’s impact and ensure fairness during the marking process.

Meanwhile, on-governmental organisation World Changers Candidate is urging learners, especially Grade 12s, to refrain from participating in the so-called pens-down parties. In June 2022, 21 youngsters were killed at a pens down party at the Enyobeni tavern in the Eastern Cape. The NGO has launched the SAY NO to Pens Down campaign. Chairperson Lucas Mahlakgane told the SABC that avoidance is key to mitigating the risk of another Enyobeni tragedy:

# Cricket: India completed a massive 295-run victory over Australia in the first Test in Perth. Both countries posted meagre scores in their first innings – India 150 and Australia 104. The visitors then took the match away from the hosts in their second innings, only declaring on 487 for six after centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, to set Australia a target of 534 runs to win. The Baggy Green was then bowled out for 238 on the penultimate day. The second of the five Tests starts in Adelaide next Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-4-cents and the euro at 18-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-602-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-674-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-33-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….