News 15:00

BULLETIN 20 October 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Bargaining Council rules that Lumka Oliphant’s dismissal was unfair
# Two KuGompo City beaches are closed after a deadly shark attack
# And motorsport: Antonelli could become F1’s youngest world champion as early as this weekend

# The Bargaining Council has ruled the dismissal of Social Development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant was procedurally unfair. She was fired a year ago following misconduct allegations, which she disputed. Oliphant’s dismissal was linked to claims that she leaked information about a three-million-rand New York trip by former minister Sisisi Tolashe. Oliphant denied being the source, describing her firing as a targeted campaign of victimisation. She challenged the decision through the Bargaining Council. OIiphant is expected to return to work on the first of November.

# Union federation SAFTU says national police commissioner Fannie Masemola’s return to office comes at a critical time, when the country urgently needs stable, effective and accountable police leadership. He returned yesterday after criminal charges against him were withdrawn and president Cyril Ramaphosa lifted his precautionary suspension. SAFTU’s Asive Dyani says Masemola’s return must be accompanied by a renewed commitment to strengthening police capacity, rooting out corruption, and dismantling criminal syndicates:

# South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago says greater competition in payment services can drive innovation and lower costs, but regulation must keep pace. Speaking at the bank’s Payments Conference 2026, Kganyago said non-bank providers should be allowed to offer certain services without facing the same rules as traditional banks. He says the proposed authorisation framework would match regulation to risk, and operational resilience to protect consumers:

# The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape has closed Orient Beach and Eastern Beach in KuGompo City until further notice following a fatal shark attack at Orient Beach this morning. The victim is reported to be an elderly woman swimming with a group of open-water swimmers. The municipality has urged beachgoers to stay out of the water at the affected beaches and exercise caution at other coastal areas.

# Motorsport: Italian Kimi Antonelli can win his first Formula One drivers’ championship title as early as this weekend at the United States Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver has increased his lead at the top of the championship to 102 points, with his British teammate George Russell second and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, also from Britain, third. To win the title in Austin, Antonelli needs to win the race and hope both Russell and Hamilton do not score sufficient points to stay within 124 points of him going to Mexico.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-394-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-123-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 113-dollars-7-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….