News 17:00

BULLETIN 20 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Rise Mzansi urges minister Enoch Godongwana to address fuel costs in the medium-term budget policy statement
# The Public Servants Association says Masemola’s return to office offers a crucial opportunity to reset the SAPS leadership
# And rugby: Kwagga Smith is on his way back to South Africa after leaving Japan

# Rise Mzansi says the National Treasury needs to review the fuel levy system and provide relief to consumers and businesses facing rising costs. According to the party, global economic uncertainty and higher oil prices are worsening South Africa’s cost-of-living crisis. Rise Mzansi’s Mabine Seabe wants Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to use the medium-term budget policy statement to address fuel costs, protect local businesses from global trade pressures and support struggling municipalities:

Meanwhile, ActionSA has also called for fuel levy relief and for action against the illicit economy. The party’s Matthew George says fuel hikes raise food costs and the price of basic goods. He says with the South African Revenue Service collecting above target, government can afford relief. He says the illicit economy costs jobs and revenue at 15-percent of the Gross Domestic Product and wants a three-year freeze on tobacco and alcohol duties.

# The Public Servants Association says the reinstatement of National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola comes at a pivotal moment for the South African Police Service, when public confidence in policing is severely strained. Masemola was suspended in April following criminal charges linked to his alleged failure to prevent apparent tender fraud in the SAPS. The charges were withdrawn in September due to insufficient evidence. PSA’s Claude Naicker says communities continue to demand policing that is effective, accountable, and transparent:

# At least four Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire in Gaza. Local health officials say the dead include a married couple killed when an airstrike hit their apartment in Gaza City, and a 17-year-old boy shot near Khan Younis. Another person was killed in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City. The Israeli military says it targeted a militant in Gaza but has not commented on the reported gunfire deaths. More than one-thousand-500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began a year ago.

# Rugby: Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith is reportedly on his way back to South Africa following the termination of his contract with Japanese club Shizuoka BlueRevs. The club announced this morning he will leave by mutual agreement. Thirty-three-year-old Smith moved to the Asian country in 2018 after leaving the Lions. Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann earler confirmed his interest in Smith, as well as in securing the services of Bok hooker Malcolm Marx, who is currently playing for Kubota Spears in Japan.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-360-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-118-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….