News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Health Department says the food poisoning was caused by a chemical agent
# The MK Party will today lay charges against the National Treasury
# And the UN chief condemns the killing of Mozambique opposition figures

# The Department of Health says the recent spate of food-related sudden illnesses and deaths, especially in schools is concerning. The Gauteng Health Department has documented a total of 203 food poisoning cases this year, resulting in six fatalities. In Limpopo, 35 learners were treated for suspected food poisoning about a week ago. The department’s national spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says a meeting of six organs of state, including the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, concluded that these outbreaks are caused by a chemical agent:

# The MK Party is set to lay fraud and corruption charges against the National Treasury at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria today. This is over the one-billion-rand contract for the Integrated Financial Management System. The Auditor-General told Parliament last week that the tender awarded fraudulently to Oracle has resulted in financial losses exceeding 400-million-rand. The contract involved the purchase of a system from Oracle with promises of integration and improvements in municipal finances.

# The ANC says it remains committed to ensuring quality education and supporting learners through initiatives that foster resilience and excellence. The party is wishing the matrics all the best as they begin their National Senior Certificate final examinations today. The ANC’s spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, says the Department of Basic Education will ensure that all standards are met for a credible examination process:

# The United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has condemned the killing of a Mozambique opposition lawyer and a party official. Gunmen attacked a car in which Elvino Dias, a legal adviser to presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, a senior spokesperson for opposition party Podemos, were travelling in, killing them instantly in the capital Maputo. The killings have escalated tension amid disputed election results. Guterres is calling on all Mozambicans, including political leaders, to reject all forms of violence ahead of the official announcement of the electoral results.

# Soccer: Liverpool moved back to the top of the Premier League table after beating Chelsea two-one at Anfield. Mohamed Salah’s penalty and Curtis Jones’ winner made it ten wins in eleven games for the Reds since Arne Slot took charge. This victory moves Liverpool a point ahead of reigning champions Manchester City and four clear of Arsenal, who they face at the Emirates next. Slot called the game against Chelsea their toughest test yet this season:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs-22-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-859-dollars-13-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-730-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….