News 16:00

BULLETIN 14 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police step up security ahead of the local government elections
# Sibiya’s defence argues he is not a flight risk
# And cricket: The Proteas’ coach is mulling changes for the second Test as Rabada is in contention to return

# Deputy Police minister Polly Boshielo says members will be deployed across several provinces to prevent politically motivated killings ahead of next month’s local government elections. This follows a shooting in Katlehong, Gauteng, in which four ANC Youth League members were killed and three wounded. The victims were attending a memorial service for slain local ANC leader Jeanette Magugu. Boshielo has urged political leaders to resolve differences through dialogue and not violence:

# Former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s lawyer, Estelle Kilian, has told the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng he is not a flight risk and will not interfere with witnesses. Sibiya is seeking bail on sexual offences. Kilian says he has undertaken not to contact state witnesses, whose identities are largely unknown to him. She argues there are no exceptional circumstances suggesting his release would threaten public order:

# The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has called for increased investment in disaster prevention and preparedness to protect communities from the growing impact of climate change and other hazards. The government disaster preparedness plan is anchored by the Disaster Management Act and managed through a multi-tiered, cooperative governance framework. Addressing a conference on disaster risk management in Mpumalanga, the department’s director-general, Mbulelo Tshangana, stressed the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction into development planning, service delivery and infrastructure investment, while strengthening early warning systems, municipal capacity and community participation.

In Asia, smoke from Indonesian wildfires has pushed pollution in Singapore to its highest level this year. East Timor has also ordered schools to close for three days from tomorrow because of dangerous smoke particles in the air. Indonesia is experiencing its worst wildfire season in 11 years, as dry weather linked to El Niño fuels the fires. The smoke has also affected Malaysia, where schools in several areas have closed. Indonesia has deployed more than 69-thousand firefighters to tackle the blazes.

# Cricket: Proteas coach Shukri Conrad says now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions following their 214-run defeat to Australia in the first Test in Durban. While stressing there are no excuses, he highlights the impact of recent injuries, particularly the absence of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and soft dismissals. Rabada should return for the second Test in Gqeberha, likely replacing fellow pacer Anrich Nortjé. Conrad says he will make some changes:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-656-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-150-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….