News 18:00

BULLETIN 1 November 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Shamila Batohi will review the withdrawal of charges against Zizi Kodwa
# Giwusa calls for a debt audit amidst growing public debt concerns
# And soccer: Ruben Amorim is appointed as the Manchester United manager

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, will review the decision made by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng, Andrew Chauke, to drop charges against former Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa and his co-accused businessman Jehan Mackay.  This decision followed a request by the Haws, and representations made on behalf of the accused. Batohi is authorised to review such decisions under the Constitution after consulting with Chauke and considering input from relevant parties. Batohi will follow legal procedures and announce her findings soon.

# General industries union Giwusa says a comprehensive debt audit is essential amid rising public debt levels. The union criticised Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s focus on servicing debt rather than improving public services, resulting in harsh austerity measures. Giwusa’s Koketso Phasha advocates for raising corporate tax rates to help reduce the debt burden and ensure adequate funding for state services:

# An 18-year-old taken in for questioning following the rapes of five women in Mqhekezweni in the Easter Cape earlier this week, has been released. He was also connected to the murder of a traditional leader’s mother-in-law. Police spokesperson, Siphokazi Mawisa, says they did not have enough evidence to arrest the teenager:

# Talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui began in Moscow today, amid fears that Pyongyang’s troops will be used in the Ukraine conflict. Neither Moscow or Pyongyang have denied Western allegations that thousands of North Korean troops are in Russia. The US has said that eight-thousand North Korean soldiers are training in Russia and could be deployed to fight in Ukraine.

# Soccer: Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new manager. The 39-year-old Portuguese current manager of Sporting, who will move to Old Trafford from the Lisbon club on 11 November, has signed a contract until June 2027. Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took charge on an interim basis after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday, will stay on for the club’s next three fixtures. The BBC reports Amorim is the sixth permanent manager United have appointed since Alex Ferguson’s 26-year reign ended with his retirement in 2013.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-56-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-869-dollars-25-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-756-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….