News 15:00

BULLETIN 1 October 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Service Commission’s chairperson warns of deliberate corruption in state institutions
# The Zimbabwean tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife are killed in a helicopter crash
# And cricket: One-hundred-and-56 players are up for grabs at the auction for SA20’s fifth season

# Public Service Commission chairperson Somadoda Fikeni has warned corruption and institutional failure in South Africa are not accidental. He was speaking at the South African Association of Public Administration and Management’s conference in Durban. Fikeni says it can become a business model for those who benefit from inefficiency. He describes this as a political economy of inefficiency, stating systemic delays, bottlenecks and weak implementation create opportunities for corruption:

# ActionSA has welcomed the Electorial Commission’s answering affidavit filed in opposition to the DA’s Electoral Court challenge, which it believes affirms the perspective that it is opportunistic, hypocritical, and frivolous. The DA is accusing the EFF, MK Party, ActionSA and GOOD Party of deliberately concealing candidates from voters by submitting only one candidate on their proportional representation lists in some municipalities for the November polls. ActionSA says the DA’s entire court application is cynical, makes unsubstantiated leaps of logic and law, and is a waste of time.

# Union federation COSATU in Gauteng calls for a comprehensive investigation after a helicopter crash-landed during a major illegal mining raid in Maphahla near Fochville earlier this week. The incident occurred during a joint law enforcement operation, Operation Prosper/Karabo, which resulted in the arrest of 121 suspected illegal miners and the recovery of five firearms. COSATU’s provincial chairperson, Amos Monyela, wants answers as to what went wrong and whether proper procedures were followed:

In Zimbabwe, local business tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife have been killed in a helicopter crash near Marondera, east of Harare. Six people were on board and there were no survivors. Chivayo was known for his lavish lifestyle, close ties to president Emmerson Mnangagwa and African leaders, and lucrative government contracts that attracted scrutiny. His business dealings also faced allegations linked to public procurement and election financing, which he denied. Police say the cause of the crash is unknown, with investigations under way.

# Cricket: Experienced locals Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen and Wiaan Mulder are among the player up for grabs in next week’s auction for SA20s fifth season. Hundred-and-56 players were shortlisted from the 789 applications received. Ninety-five South Africans and 61 overseas players are available for four teams. Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their 19-player squads and won’t participate in the auction. Dewald Brevis broke the record for the highest price when Pretoria Capitals bought him for 16.5-million-rand last year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-58-cents and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-751-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-170-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….