News 06:00

BULLETIN 21 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# It is all systems go for the National Senior Certificate examinations
# At least 87 are killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza
# And cricket: New Zealand beat South Africa to win their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube says the department is ready to administer the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations. Matric exams begin today with 882-thousand-336 candidates from across South Africa. A further 16-thousand-400 students from private schools and institutions will take the Independent Examination Board exams. Gwarube described this year’s final exams as representing the cumulative efforts of the education system, schools, communities, and the department:

Gwarube also says to ensure the integrity of the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations, the department has deployed 70 part-time monitors to oversee high-risk centres. Additionally, at least 70-percent of examination centres will be monitored per session. Examination board Umalusi has approved 162 quality-assured papers for this year’s NSC exams. Gwarube says these efforts will help to prevent irregularities such as group copying or leakage of exam papers:

# The EFF has condemned the blatant sabotage of justice and accountability perpetrated by former Police minister Bheki Cele, who failed to appoint a Hawks judge for nearly two years. The EFF’s spokesperson, Leigh-Ann Mathys says this dereliction of duty has crippled the Hawks’ ability to investigate corruption, misconduct, and political interference within its ranks. She says Cele’s refusal to extend Judge Frans Kgomo’s term and his scandalous delay in appointing a replacement judge has wreaked havoc on the Hawks, leaving the office paralysed, unable to finalise any findings of corruption or misconduct for an entire financial year.

#  Former Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and now the metro’s mayoral committee member for Community Development appeared before the Protea Magistrate’s Court and is out on bail pending further investigation. In 2012, Gwamanda ran the iThemba Lama Afrika funeral insurance company, and residents in Soweto contributed monthly payments for funeral insurance. Al Jama-ah leader, Ganief Hendricks, says the party commends Gwamanda for his courage and cooperation during this period:

# At least 87 people including children were killed and more than 40 injured in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. The Israel Defence Force describes the strike as a precision attack against a Hamas target. It has accused Hamas authorities of sharing exaggerated fatality figures. The airstrike comes as the Israeli military again ramps up its operations in northern Gaza, saying Hamas was regrouping in the area, as Israel presses on with its war against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. 

# Cricket: New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs to win the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time in Dubai. The White Ferns, who had lost successive finals in 2009 and 2010, posted 158 for five with player of the tournament, Amelia Kerr, top scoring with 43. In reply, the Proteas were restricted to 126 for nine with captain Laura Wolvaardt scoring 33. Kerr and Rosemary Mair took three wickets each. This is the second successive defeat in the final for South Africa.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-59-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-27-dollar-33-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-723-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….