News 18:00

BULLETIN 16 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Critical Learner Support Programmes are threatened by an unfunded wage agreement
# A stern warning is given to Correctional Services officials following a raid at St Albans centre
# And rugby: A Wallabies flanker mistakes a broken hand for a ligament problem

# The Western Cape Education Department says government’s failure to fully fund the 2023 public sector wage agreement has placed essential learner support programmes in jeopardy. MEC David Maynier says provinces face a fiscal emergency, forcing difficult budget choices. He says the Western Cape authorities will protect special needs schools, meal programmes, and learner transport:

# National Correctional Services commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale has vowed to crack down on prison officials involved in criminal activities. Following an unannounced raid at St Albans Correctional Centre in Gqeberha, contraband, including cellphones and money, was seized. He highlighted that such raids are vital for tackling crimes like murder and extortion, often orchestrated by prison kingpins:

# The African Transformation Movement has accused the ANC-led government of failing to address the widespread exploitation of workers’ pension funds. According to the party, 82-percent of South African companies did not remit pension contributions in 2023/2024, reflecting severe mismanagement and corporate greed. The ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona criticised the government for its inaction and called for immediate measures to recover the lost funds and hold accountable those responsible: 

# Flooding sparked by Storm Boris in central Europe has burst dams, knocked out power and killed at least eleven people. High winds and unusually heavy rainfall have hit swathes of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia since Friday. The rains have flooded streets and submerged entire neighbourhoods in some places, while shutting down public transport and electricity in others.

# Rugby: Australia’s Fraser McReight has recovered from surgery after not realising he had played through their July internationals with a broken hand. The flanker says he thought it was a ligament problem, but is now ready for Saturday’s Rugby Championship game against New Zealand in Sydney. McReight had broken his hand in the first Test of the season, against Wales. The Wallabies lost both their home Tests to South Africa and was beaten 67-27 by Argentina in Santa Fe.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-68-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-337-dollars-77-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-560-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….