News 13:00

BULLETIN 24 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The corruption case against Zizi Kodwa and Jehan Mackay is postponed for a review of their applications to have charges dropped
# Cosatu says the Labour Law reform negotiations need to take place in good faith
# And rugby: Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw are called up to the Bok squad for the outgoing tour

# Former minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa and former EOH executive Jehan Mackay’s corruption case has been postponed to 1 November at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. This will allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to review requests to drop charges against the accused. This case stems from the Zondo commission’s findings of 1.68-million-rand in payments made for Kodwa’s benefit. The NPA’s Phindi Mjonondwane says the consultation process is underway: 

# Cosatu says the Labour Law reforms negotiations at Nedlac in Johannesburg are extremely sensitive matters for millions of workers. The union federation believes the negotiations should be allowed to take place in good faith and the temptation to play to the public gallery avoided. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says they welcome major progressive proposals that have been made to enhance workers’ rights. He says these include a-typical workers, protecting the value of the national minimum wage and improving provisions for workers during retrenchments:

# The African Transformation Movement has asked the Public Protector for an investigation into the rise of foodborne diseases in South Africa, linked to the sale of expired and decayed goods. Gauteng, Limpopo and the Northern Cape have reported cases of food poisoning, with six fatalities in Gauteng. ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona says the ongoing crisis continues to cost the country many lives, especially children:

# Stellenbosch University and the Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents have settled on the university’s decision to close the historic Wilgenhof men’s residence next year. The association had sought a court interdict to halt the closure due to what the university’s council termed unacceptable and secretive initiation practices. As part of the agreement, Wilgenhof students can remain together in the new residence during renovations and return in the second term. Both parties committed to renewal and transformation, marking a shift from past practices at the residence.

# Rugby: Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw have been called up to the Springbok squad for next month’s outgoing tour, following the injury withdrawal of utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels. He suffered an ankle injury in the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship clash against the Scarlets last Saturday. The inclusion of Grobbelaar and Louw increases the squad to 35 players, comprising 19 forwards and 16 backs. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus says he is excited to see the two make their mark against quality opposition in Scotland, England and Wales.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-889-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-738-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….