News 12:00
BULLETIN 6 October 12 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The former acting police commissioner says IDAC’s charges against him were fabricated
# The latest poll shows Trump’s approval ratings have reached a record low
# And rugby: The Stormers’ defence coach is excited to have an almost full complement of Springboks available for the Sharks clash
# Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane says the fraud and corruption charges against him were fabricated. The Investigating Directorate against Corruption has provisionally withdrawn the case against him and his co-accused over a 191-million-rand Police Service emergency warning equipment contract, pending a review. About 65-million-rand was paid to the service provider, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement. Phahlane told the SABC the figures mentioned by IDAC are incorrect:
# The Motor Industry Staff Association is calling on government to urgently reinstate a temporary fuel levy reduction as fuel prices are set to soar tomorrow. Petrol prices will go up by up to three-rand-33-cents per litre, diesel prices by between two-rand-84-cents and three-rand-24-cents a litre, and illuminating paraffin prices by four-rand-77-cents. MISA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says this will hit households already under severe financial pressure with food, electricity and transport prices:
# Most eligible South African voters will be opting out of next month’s local government elections, driven by youth disillusionment, distrust and broken political promises. This is according to Daily Maverick. Polling data from market research company Ipsos found that 47-percent of respondents felt no political party represented their views, and 38-percent had no interest in politics or elections. Forty-percent of youth aged 18 to 34 said they did not trust the Electoral Commission. North West University lecturer Naledi Modise says one-party dominance has weakened accountability and contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
In the US, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows president Donald Trump’s approval rating at a record-low of 32-percent before the critical November midterm elections, which will determine if his Republican Party will keep control of the House and Senate. Trump’s support among his own party members is down to 73- from 82-percent. The poll also shows only 17-percent of respondents approved of his handling of the cost of living, while 34-percent approves of the strikes on Iran. Trump remains popular among Republicans on the issue of immigration and crime.
# Rugby: Stormers defence coach Norman Laker is confident the returning Springboks will slot seamlessly back into the team’s system. John Dobson’s side will look to bounce back from their defeat to Edinburgh when they face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday. The Stormers will have an almost full complement of Boks available for the clash, including Deon Fourie, Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Laker says the returning players will quickly get the few tweaks made to the system during pre-season.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-57-cents and the euro at 18-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-905-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-146-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-21-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….