News 17:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 10 November 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Correctional Services confirms parole for John Block 
# Senior ANC officials implicated in the UIF jobs saga will not be asked to step aside
# And Cricket: Allan Donald leaves Bangladesh after criticising the captain 

# The Department of Correctional Services has announced the parole placement of former Northern Cape ANC chairperson John Block, effective today. He was sentenced to 15-years for corruption and money laundering in 2016. His participation in correctional programmes and achievement of a Business Management Diploma factored into the decision. Block benefited from special remissions, advancing his release date. The department’s spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says specialists’ reports were submitted regarding the inmate’s readiness for social reintegration:

Play sound: ENG NxumaloOnBlockParole

# The ANC’s national executive committee has opted not to invoke the step-aside rule for senior leaders implicated in the UIF job saga. Thuja Capital CEO Mthunzi Mdwaba accuses Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande, Employment and Labour minister Thulas Nxesi, and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula of demanding a 500-million-rand gateway fee for a five-billion-rand tender deal with the UIF. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says a decision is pending regarding a potential investigation into these serious allegations:

Play sound: ENG-Bhengu-MotsiriOnUIFScandal

# Freedom Under Law is legally challenging the Judicial Service Commission’s decision to recommend only two candidates for four vacancies at the Supreme Court of Appeal. The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution has requested a written explanation from the JSC regarding this decision. The JSC cited concerns over racism, insufficient votes, and poor performance as reasons for not appointing qualified candidates after last month’s interviews. Freedom Under Law deems the JSC’s explanations as inadequate.

# Cricket: Former Proteas ace Allan Donald will leave his position as Bangladesh’s fast-bowling coach after the World Cup after criticising captain Shakib Al Hasan’s role in the time-out controversy. Al Hasan appealed for the wicket of Sri Lankan veteran Angelo Mathews because it took him later than the prescribed two minutes to take strike when his helmet’s strap broke. Donald said he was shocked and the incident overshadowed Bangladesh’s clinical performance. His employers weren’t happy with his public criticism, and he decided not to request an extension of his contract.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-76-cents and the euro at 20-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-148-dollars-6-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-945-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The sixth Paris Peace Forum has commenced in the French capital. Over two-days, participants from the United States, China, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America will look at ways of working together in a world of rivalry. The participants will compare their vision for the world and the future of global governance. The agenda includes protecting the planet and its people, ensuring trust and safety in the digital realm, addressing inequalities, accelerating the fulfilment of sustainable development goals, and collectively building peace for a safer world.

Stay tuned for more news………….