News 15:00

BULLETIN 14 November 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The KwaZulu-Natal government tackles food safety in spaza shops after suspected contamination incidents
# The Public Servants Association urges the Reserve Bank to reduce interest rates significantly
# And rugby: The Boks make 12 changes to their starting 15 for the battle with England

# The KwaZulu-Natal government is set to meet with municipalities to discuss the enforcement of spaza shop regulations, focusing on ensuring compliance with food safety standards. This comes after a suspected food contamination incident in uMzumbe last month, which resulted in the deaths of three children and the hospitalisation of their grandmother. Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli told the media unannounced inspections will be conducted to curb illegal operations and improve the safety of products sold:

# The Public Servants Association urges the South African Reserve Bank to lower interest rates by 50 basis points at its upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting next Thursday. With inflation dropping to 3.8-percent, the PSA believes it’s time for the bank to bring much-needed relief to the working class struggling with the high cost of living. The association’s Claude Naiker says a bigger rate cut would help reduce financial pressure, boost spending, and create jobs.

# The chairperson of Parliament’s standing committee on Public Accounts, Songezo Zibi, has voiced concern over delays in the vetting of senior government officials, despite improvements. During a briefing on the matter, he admitted the current vetting process struggles with a backlog, resource shortages, and unfilled positions, citing that not all senior officials are vetted before assuming critical roles. Efforts are being made to improve the system, but Zibi emphasised the need for stricter oversight:

# Rugby: The Springbok starting-15 against England shows 12 changes to the team which defeated Scotland 32-15 last weekend. Only Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché and Bongi Mbonambi remain. Bulls prop Wilco Louw joins RG Snyman and loose forwards Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese in the starting line-up. Grant Williams starts at scrumhalf and Manie Libbok at flyhalf. They are joined by Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel and Aphelele Fassi in a new backline. The bench has five forwards and three backs.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-98-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-546-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Legendary singer Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation has made an over 800-million-rand investment to help launch the Nashville Public Library’s new early literacy programme, Begin Bright. The programme will help ensure that every child in the American city starts reading early. According to the Nashville Public Library Foundation, this investment marks the most significant gift in its 27-year history. Parton says she hopes the programme can make a huge impact on inspiring a love of reading for children and families.

Stay tuned for more news………….