News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Health minister reiterates NATJOINTS’ stance on food poisoning as a security threat
# Western Cape farmers face major losses amid port delays
# And rugby: The Bok number eight leads the Bulls against Benetton in Treviso

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi has reiterated support for the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure classifying food poisoning as a national security threat. This follows multiple cases across provinces. In the most recent incident, 24 learners from Enzani Primary in Matsulu, Mpumalanga, were taken to hospital with suspected food poisoning. Motsoaledi told the SABC that authorities, including the Agriculture Department, are investigating:

# Inefficiencies at the port of Cape Town are costing Western Cape apple and pear farmers 26-thousand-rand per hectare annually. This has led to nearly one-billion-rand in losses for the agricultural sector. Farmers are struggling with delayed shipments, putting their reputation as reliable international suppliers at risk. With the upcoming fruit export season, experts warn timely improvements are deemed crucial for their livelihoods. The introduction of 47 new hauliers and a recovery plan by Transnet aims to alleviate these challenges, but farmers remain anxious about the future.

# The City of Johannesburg and the French Development Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding to renew their partnership. The city’s spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane, says this agreement marks a new phase in the 20-year-long collaboration between the agency and the city. He says it focuses on sustainable urban development through spatial transformation, reduction of inequalities and advancing a climate transition:

# Violence intensified in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, this week, which saw a United Nations helicopter hit by gunfire and two gangs apparently targeting US embassy vehicles. CNN reports the attacks, along with an increase in gang activity around the embassy, have prompted embassy officials to begin the process of evacuating up to 20 diplomatic staff from the capital. Gangs in Haiti control much of the city, and the ongoing violence has left nearly 700-thousand Haitians homeless in recent years. The UN reports that three-thousand-661 people have been killed since January this year.

# Rugby: Springbok eighthman Elrigh Louw will captain the Bulls in tonight’s United Rugby Championship match against Benetton in Treviso on his return from concussion. Veteran Marcell Coetzee and rising star Reinhardt Ludwig will join Louw in the loose trio. Ludwig led the team last week when they lost to Scarlets after a red card to Bok hooker Johan Grobbelaar, which was changed to yellow after the match. Grobbelaar and Louw will leave for Europe with the Boks on Sunday before their Tests against Scotland, England and Wales.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-576-dollars-21-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-719-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….