News 15:00

BULLETIN 28 October 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Suliman Carrim is granted 100-thousand-rand’s bail on strict conditions
# Over 100 dogs are ill after drinking contaminated water at the SPCA in Centurion
# And rugby: Six debutants are included in the Springbok squad for the European tour

# North West businessman Suliman Carrim, charged with contempt for failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission, has been granted 100-thousand-rand bail by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. He was arrested recently while trying to board a flight to Dubai. Magistrate Marc Curlewis says the state failed to prove Carrim would evade trial or endanger public safety, but posted strict bail conditions, include surrendering travel documents and weekly police reporting. He postponed the case to December 8:

# More than 100 dogs have fallen ill after drinking contaminated water at the SPCA in Centurion, Gauteng. The dogs showed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. The metro is experiencing several water-related challenges simultaneously, which include the ongoing contamination crisis in Bronkhorstspruit and water quality concerns in parts of Hammanskraal. Tshwane SPCA chairperson Jeanine Niemann-Greatorex says adoptions and public visits have been suspended as a precaution while the water is being tested.

Staying with health matters:

# The Gauteng Department of Health has acknowledged public concerns over the air-conditioning system and chiller plant at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria. According to the DA in the province, failures in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and chiller systems have pushed operating theatre temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, forcing the postponement of complex and lengthy surgeries. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says emergency surgeries have continued, along with selected elective procedures:

Moving abroad:

# German chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a new free trade-agreement between the 27-member European Union and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, comprising 12 countries across five continents. The partnership includes Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Neither the United States nor China is part of the new alliance. Merz, who also met with Singaporean prime minister Lawrence Wong, says it was up to European and Asian nations to find their spot amid a changing global order. Wong says investment in Europe would continue.

# Rugby: Six players can make their debuts for South Africa in next month’s Nations Championship matches in Europe. They are Yaqeen Ahmed, Sebastian de Klerk, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Riley Norton, and Emmanuel Tshituka. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus announced a squad of 37 players for the Tests against Italy, France and Ireland. He is delighted to welcome the talented young players, saying their performances the last two seasons were key factors. Experienced boks Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, André Esterhuizen and Handré Pollard are all injured and couldn’t be considered.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-67-cents and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-239-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-45-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 116-dollars-32-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….