News 16:00
BULLETIN 6 October 4 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The dates of Mbeki and Zuma’s appearance at the TRC inquiry is confirmed
# Golf: LIV secures much-needed funding from BC Partners Credit
# And an NSPCA investigation finds police dog Sky suffered for months before her death
# Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma are expected to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases inquiry this month. Mbeki will testify on 19 and 20 October and Zuma on the 22nd. This follows a Constitutional Court ruling dismissing their final bids to have retired Justice Sisi Khampepe removed as chairperson. The inquiry is investigating allegations of political interference in apartheid-era prosecutions. Both former presidents are expected to give evidence about events during their respective terms in office.
# AgriSA says South African agriculture needs stronger links between problems on farms and government decisions. The organisation says issues such as poor roads, water delays, safety and labour challenges affect farmers and the wider food system. AgriSA says its network and centres of excellence help gather information from farmers, turn it into evidence and work with government and other organisations on solutions. It adds the goal is to ensure problems raised by farmers lead to practical improvements.
# Union federation COSATU and its affiliates will mark World Day for Decent Work tomorrow with nationwide marches and pickets to highlight the plight of workers. Spokesperson Zanele Sabela says workers are under siege from rampant retrenchments, non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage, increasing casualisation of jobs, and escalating attacks on collective bargaining rights. She says compliance with the national minimum wage remains a challenge, as an estimated 40-percent of workers are still paid less than the required wage:
# Golf: LIV Golf has secured a 4.98-billion-rand financing commitment from BC Partners Credit to help the breakaway league ahead of the 2027 season. LIV filed for bankruptcy protection in the US last month in an attempt to restructure after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its financial backing. BC Partners Credit says the investment will help LIV emerge from its restructuring as a fiscally strong, sustainable, team-focused golf league that complements the existing professional tours. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil says this investment is an important step forward for the league.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 18-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-142-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-175-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-64-cents a barrel.
# And finally: The National Council of SPCAs is set to lay animal cruelty charges against police officials following the death of police dog Sky. The five-year-old Belgian Malinois was found badly injured at a police veterinary facility in Roodeplaat, Pretoria, last month and was later put down. The council says Sky suffered severe stress and repeated injuries for months, yet remained in an environment that caused her distress.
Stay tuned for more news………….