News 15:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 15 November 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC is prepared for the voter registration weekend
# An economist argues the appointment of Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as acting Finance minister could negatively affect investor confidence
# And Cricket: Andrew Flintoff is the Northern Superchargers’ new head coach in The Hundred 

# The Independent Electoral Commission has announced that it’s all systems go ahead of the upcoming voter registration weekend. CEO Sy Mamabolo provided an update on the IEC’s preparations, revealing that over one-million people have registered since the launch of the online portal. Additionally, 69-thousand-780 staff have been registered and trained for this campaign. Mamabolo confirmed that the registration stations will operate from 8 AM to 5 PM on both days. Temporary voting centers have also been established in various communities:

Play sound: ENG-MamaboloOnReadiness

# Nedbank’s chief economist Nicky Weimar has expressed concerns that the appointment of Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as acting Finance minister could cause instability in the country and affect investor confidence. Weimar told Newzroom Afrika that the disruption in leadership could be perceived negatively. Ramokgopa will serve in the acting capacity as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana takes leave until next Wednesday. According to the Treasury, Godongwana is expected to attend the Group of 20 Africa Compact meeting in Berlin next week:

Play sound: ENG-WeimarOnRamokgopa

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the resignation of State Security Agency director-general Thembisile Majola. The resignation, effective from 30 November, is said to be on mutual consent. Majola, a former deputy minister of Energy, assumed the role of SSA director-general on 1 March last year. Ramaphosa has expressed appreciation for Majola’s contribution to the reform and rebuilding of the State Security Agency.

# Cricket: Former England all-rounder and captain, Andrew Flintoff has been named new head coach of The Hundred team, the Northern Superchargers. This is the 45-year-old’s first stint in such a position after playing over 200 matches for his country in all three formats. He retired in 2009 and went on to become a commentator, brand ambassador and radio and television presenter. Flintoff, nicknamed Freddie, worked as a consultant coach with England’s team recently. Superchargers’ chairperson, Kirsty Bashforth describes him as an inspirational figure who will help them to create a unique culture.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-199-dollars-5-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-972-dollars-72-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-98-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A Frenchman with advanced-stage Parkinson’s Disease says it’s wonderful to walk again after receiving a new spinal implant. The 63-year-old, only known as Marc, was diagnosed with the condition 20-years ago and wasn’t able to walk without assistance later. GoodNewsNetwork reports he was the subject of Swiss experimental implant technology that was also used to restore some mobility to a man left paralyzed after a spinal cord injury. Marc says he can now walk kilometres at a time and his whole life has changed for the better.

Stay tuned for more news………….