News 14:00

BULLETIN 21 November 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Foodborne illnesses prompt a national disaster classification
# The UIF pays 2.9-billion-rand in outstanding claims to beneficiaries
# And rugby: Statistics favour the Boks against Wales on Saturday

# The National Disaster Management Centre has declared a national disaster due to a surge in foodborne illnesses caused by poor food safety practices. Following 890 reported cases of foodborne illnesses, mostly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the declaration mandates a multisectoral relief plan. Briefing the media, Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the government is working on a plan to tackle the crisis and improve food safety nationwide:

Meanwhile, Justice and Constitutional Development minister Thembi Simelane says law enforcement agencies will clamp down heavily on spaza shop registration extortionists who want to use this process to enrich themselves. Simelane addressed the media on the action plan to manage foodborne illnesses. She says government appeals to all South Africans not to disturb the process of registration by blocking certain shop owners from participating:

# Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has announced that the Unemployment Insurance Fund has disbursed 2.9-billion-rand in outstanding claims during the first half of the financial year. Addressing Parliament, she highlighted the swift processing of 99-percent of approved benefits within ten working days. Meth assured the portfolio committee of ongoing efforts to resolve Auditor-General concerns, enhance internal controls, and stabilise online systems. She says the achievement marks significant progress in addressing claim backlogs for eligible beneficiaries.

# Experts have welcomed changes to South Africa’s history curriculum, which include adding pre-colonial history for grades 10-to-12. The goal is to move away from a Eurocentric view and focus more on African history. According to News 24, historians believe it is important to include the voices of indigenous groups like the San, Khoi, and Xhosa, and address the impact of colonialism and apartheid. The changes aim to help learners think critically, understand their heritage, and become informed global citizens.

# Rugby: The statistics are in the Springboks’ favour when they play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. The two teams have met 42 times in the past, with South Africa winning 34 matches and Wales seven, while one ended in a draw. The Boks’ biggest victory over the Welshman came in South Africa in 1998, when they won 96-13 – still Wales’ biggest defeat ever. Victory for the world champions at the Principality Stadium will hand them their first undefeated northern hemisphere tour since 2013.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-14-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-403-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-668-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….