News 17:00

BULLETIN 18 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Rise Mzansi calls for an urgent investigation into sinister allegations of food poisoning
# AfriForum calls for Panyaza Lesufi’s removal to avert a water crisis in Gauteng
# And rugby: The Sharks get their Boks back for their clash with Glasgow Warriors

# Rise Mzansi is demanding a dedicated, multi-disciplinary investigation into the recent spate of alleged food poisonings, which have led to several deaths and hospitalisations of school children. Party spokesperson Gugu Ndima claims the recurring incidents, including a recent case where 25 learners from Mshuluzane Mayisela Primary School in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, were hospitalised, are too frequent to be dismissed as isolated events caused by expired goods: 

# AfriForum warns that Gauteng’s water crisis is worsening due to premier Panyaza Lesufi’s failure to address municipal mismanagement. AfriForum’s Morné Mostert cites poor governance and infrastructure decay as reasons for national government intervention. He believes that Lesufi’s removal is essential to prevent Day Zero and restore essential services in the province’s struggling municipalities:

# The National Prosecuting Authority will oppose bail for Limpopo police sergeant Rachel Kutumela, her sister Annah Shokane, and daughter Madjadji Shokane who appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in connection with insurance murders today. Kutumela is accused of fraudulently taking out life insurance policies for multiple victims, claiming ten-million-rand and sharing the proceeds. NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi says more arrests may follow:

# Rugby: The Sharks team to play Glasgow Warriors at Kings Park in Durban tomorrow has been bolstered by the return of a number of Springboks for this first United Rugby Championship home game of the campaign. Bok lock Eben Etzebeth will lead the team while his national teammates Ox Nché, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi are also back in the starting team. Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse feature as the halfback pairing. Kick-off is at 3:45 tomorrow afternoon.

# The price of gold is at an all-time high as investors expect more rate cuts by major central banks, with additional safe-haven support from ongoing geopolitical conflicts. The price has soared to over two-thousand-700 dollar and gold bulls are even predicting prices above two-thousand-900-dollars an ounce in the next 12-months. A worsening economic outlook and signs that inflation is increasingly under control prompted the European Central Bank to cut its deposit rate by another 25 basis points yesterday in the first back-to-back rate cut since 2011.

The dollar trades at 17-rand-54-cents and the euro at 19-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-788-dollars-10-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-705-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….