News 12:00

BULLETIN 19 October 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Masemola is determined to unite the Police Service and strengthen its institutional integrity
# Trump endorses Netanyahu for re-election
# And rugby: The Lions’ coach says they wanted to play out of respect for Andrews

# National police commissioner Fannie Masemola says his return to work marks a renewed commitment to unity, accountability, institutional reform and improved frontline policing. He addressed the media at the Tshwane Police Academy in Pretoria on his return after president Cyril Ramaphosa lifted his suspension last week. Masemola says the Police Service is bigger than any one person, and the constitutional mandate must always take precedence over personal interests, internal differences and individual circumstances:

# The Auditor-General’s office says procurement and consequence management, strategic planning and performance management remain the key areas of compliance weaknesses across the education sector. Fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the sector increased from 7.48-million-rand in 2024/25 to 175.6-million-rand in 2025/26, with the Free State being the top contributor. The Gauteng Education Department was the largest contributor to the 20.7-billion-rand in irregular expenditure incurred by provincial Education Departments in the financial year ending in March. The Auditor-General says persistent non-compliance in procurement can negatively affect teaching and learning.

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Health is concerned about reports of a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses in Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding communities in the City of Tshwane. Between 160 diarrhoea and stomach-related cases were recorded over six days. Tshwane has stated a waterborne illness was among the possible explanations, but investigations were ongoing. Committee chairperson Faith Muthambi says what is concerning is the potential public health implications, particularly if the outbreak is linked to water quality challenges.

Moving abroad:

# With just over a week until Israel’s parliamentary elections, US president Donald Trump has officially endorsed prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election. This will be the first national vote since the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023. Trump describes Netanyahu as a great warrior and key US partner in confronting Iran. Most polls show Netanyahu’s coalition falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. He thanked Trump for his endorsement:

# Rugby: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen praised his men for honouring Saturday’s Champions Cup fixture against Stade Francais in France despite the death of teammate Hyron Andrews on Friday morning. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room and declared dead later, with the cause of death not yet confirmed. Saturday’s match was very emotional, especially when Andrews’ number 5 shirt was laid on the field beforehand. The Lions lost 31-14, but Van Rooyen says they played to show respect to their fallen teammate.   

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-692-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-176-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….