News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 November 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet applauds the Medium-Term Budget Policy statement focused on stability and growth
# The acting KZN Crime Detection head details organised crime involvement
# And, minister Parks Tau welcomes the final Media and Digital Platforms inquiry report

# Cabinet has welcomed the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, which outlines South Africa’s fiscal framework for the next three years. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the budget prioritises health, education, and social grants, alongside major infrastructure investments in energy, water, and transport. She emphasised that setting a three-percent inflation target will lower costs, boost investor confidence, and align fiscal and monetary policy to support sustainable growth and job creation:

# KwaZulu-Natal acting Crime Detection head, Anthony Gopaul, has detailed the involvement of organised crime in the province. In a media briefing, Gopaul revealed that on 16 January, a South African Police Service employee changed Scharnick’s criminal records, which is why Scharnick believes nothing shows in the system. He also highlighted the role of scrap dealers and registration officials in facilitating car thefts, carjackings, and other crimes:

# Trade, Industry and Competition minister Parks Tau has welcomed the finalisation of the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry by the Competition Commission. He praised the inclusive, evidence-based process, noting its findings and remedies are crucial for South Africa’s media sector. Tau highlighted challenges from declining advertising revenue, the impact of digital platforms, and AI developments. He says he will submit the report to Parliament within ten days for consideration:

# A mother-and-daughter duo – one claiming to be a fortune teller and a feng shui master – have been charged over allegedly scamming almost 780-million-rand from vulnerable Vietnamese citizens in Australia. The 53-year-old mother and her 25-year-old daughter were arrested in Dover Heights in Sydney. Police say they were part of a highly sophisticated fraud and money laundering syndicate. The mother allegedly convinced her victims to take out loans, keeping a share herself, by telling them she foresaw a billionaire in their future.

# Rugby: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus rang the changes for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Turin. There are 12 changes to the squad that broke French hearts with a convincing 32-17 victory in the Stade de France in Paris last weekend. The only players remaining in the starting-15 are captain Siya Kolisi, prop Boan Venter, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse and fullback Damian Willemse. Kwagga Smith returns to the bench in place of Johan Grobbelaar, who will wear the number two-jersey. Kick-off is at 2.40 Saturday afternoon.    

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-1-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-909-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-232-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….