News 16:00

BULLETIN 19 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says government weighs the options to ease fuel price pressures
# Mbeki denies secret deals to shield apartheid-era generals
# And rugby: The Stormers plan to give their Springboks a break before November’s four Tests

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is seriously considering ways to ease the burden of rising fuel prices on consumers. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Bana Pele leadership summit in Sandton, Johannesburg. Ramaphosa warns any relief must be weighed against the impact on public finances and national reserves. He says price cuts would require careful budget decisions, adding government cannot make an immediate decision:

# Former president Thabo Mbeki has dismissed as a complete fabrication allegations he held secret meetings with apartheid-era generals to shield them from prosecution. He acknowledged before the the Khampepe Commission he met security force generals who wanted former president FW de Klerk to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Amnesty Committee. Mbeki blamed delays in prosecuting apartheid-era crimes on the National Prosecuting Authority:

# A crime scene investigator has told the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court the hotel room where Anele Tembe and rapper boyfriend Kiernan “AKA” Forbes were staying was in disarray. The inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding Tembe’s death when she fell from the tenth floor of the building in April 2021. The investigator testified towels and bedding had possible bloodstains, while scratches were observed on AKA’s body. Another witness told the court the crime scene had been contaminated, with many people entering the area.

Moving abroad:

# Bangladesh has asked Saudi Arabia for an explanation after two of its citizens were executed without its government being informed beforehand. The man and woman were executed in Mecca last week after being convicted of what Saudi authorities described as an indecent act inside a mosque. The precise nature of the offence has not been officially detailed. Bangladesh has handed a formal diplomatic note to the Saudi ambassador, seeking information about the case and the legal proceedings.

# Rugby: The Stormers plan to stick to their plan to rest some of their Springboks in the coming weeks. The team utilised its internationals in the past two home victories over the Sharks and Bristol Bears, but the Boks need some rest before next month’s four Nations Championship Tests in Europe. Director of rugby John Dobson says he needs to give Junior Bok loosehead Ollie Reed some game time in the next two matches, while the Boks Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Paul de Villiers all need a break.  

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-503-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-162-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 109-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….