News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is saddened at the killing of six community patrollers in the Eastern Cape
# The Institute for Race Relations says rhetoric and sentiment are not enough to stimulate sustainable growth
# And cricket: An injured Bavuma may miss the Proteas’ Test series against Bangladesh

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the killing of six community patrollers in Qumbu in the Eastern Cape, a week after the Lusikisiki mass shooting, as sad and outrageous. The patrollers were reportedly preparing for duty on Sunday night when unknown gunmen shot at them. Four people were wounded. In Lusikisiki, 18 people were shot dead last Saturday. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says criminals must be stopped from terrorising communities in the mistaken belief that they are untouchable:

# The Institute of Race Relations says while the formation of the government of national unity has brought positive sentiment, economic growth requires concrete actions rather than words. Rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth is listed as the priority in the government of national unity’s founding agreement. The institute’s Hermann Pretorius says rhetoric and sentiment will not be enough to unlock the sustainable growth needed to unleash the potential of South Africans and create millions of new jobs:

# Medical negligence claims paid out by the Gauteng Health Department have increased by 36-percent in the past year, rising to 696-million-rand in 2023/’24, from 512-million-rand the year before. This is according to figures provided by Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi to Parliament. The minister says the province’s health services have been affected by corruption scandals. Nationally, medico-legal claim payouts remain high, totalling 4.12-billion-rand over the last three years, with KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape recording the highest claims.

# US vice president Kamala Harris has reiterated that Israel has the right to defend itself but how it does so matters. Hamas’ attack on Israel on the seventh of October last year killed one-thousand-200 people, including 46 US citizens, and about 250 were taken hostage. In retaliation strikes, Israel has killed almost 42-thousand Palestinians. In a wide-ranging interview on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Harris said a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon is needed urgently:

# Cricket: Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s injury may keep him out of the two-Test tour of Bangladesh, starting on the 21st. He injured his arm during the second one-day match against Ireland in Abu Dhabi on Friday, and missed yesterday’s final game when Rassie van der Dussen led the team. This is the same problem that kept Bavuma on the sidelines for a lengthy period two years ago. The players are returning home from the United Arab Emirates today and Bavuma will then consult a specialist.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-468-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-635-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-66-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….