News 18:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 13 November 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# MEC Lebogang Maile unveils the findings into Nonkwelo Investments funding 
# The DA wants subsidised public transport benefits for military veterans addressed 
# And Cricket: Bavuma’s chances of playing in the semifinal have improved

# The Gauteng Partnership Fund investigation has revealed governance pitfalls and irregularities in funding allocations to deputy president Paul Mashatile’s son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo’s company, Nonkwelo Investments. Human Settlements MEC, Lebogang Maile presented findings, raising concerns about scope changes and inadequate due diligence in the Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme. Trustees may face liability for flawed decisions. The loans, totaling 24.9-million-rand for the construction of student accommodation in Highlands, Johannesburg that never materialised, were deemed irregular. Maile vows to strengthen governance, and recommendations are under review.

# The DA in concerned that minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, is considering removing the subsidised public transport benefits for military veterans due to the absence of an adequate subsidised public transport strategy. Despite the appointment of an acting director-general in the department, the implementation of the Military Veterans Act is still not fully complied with. The DA’s Maliyakhe Shelembe says twelve years ago, the act was enacted with the provision that military veterans must be assisted with subsidised public transport:

Play sound: ENG MaliyakheonModise

# The Australian government plans to issue a national apology over the Thalidomide tragedy of the early 1960s that led to death and malformation in babies. Thalidomide was the active ingredient in a sedative widely distributed to many pregnant women in the country, and the rest of the world. It triggered a worldwide overhaul of drug-testing regimes after the US Food and Drug Administration was the lone voice in refusing to approve the drug. Thalidomide killed an estimated 80-thousand unborn babies and caused deformities in another 20-thousand children.

# Cricket: Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s chances of playing in Thursday’s World Cup semifinal against Australia seem to have improved after taking part in a training session in Kolkata today. He sustained a hamstring injury in last week’s final group match against Afghanistan. E-S-P-N-cricinfo reports Bavuma’s fitness will be monitored closely until Thursday, but the medical team is positive he will be able to lead the Proteas. Hosts India and New Zealand will fight it out in the first semifinal on Wednesday, with the final taking place on Sunday.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-76-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-888-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-935-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Education psychologist, Fred Schouwink, has urged parents and guardians to engage in open communication with their children. This comes in response to statistics from the Gauteng Education Department indicating a rise in suicide cases in schools. In an interview with eNCA, Schouwink emphasised that most cases of suicide and other mental health issues can be prevented. He underscores the crucial role of parental support in preventing despair and suicides:

Play sound: ENG-SchouwinkOnMentalHealth

Stay tuned for more news………….