News 13:00

BULLETIN 2 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The victims of the Bityi mass shooting are laid to rest
# The KwaZulu-Natal premier says mass killings are a thorn in the flesh of concerted crime fighting efforts
# And, motorsport: Piastri takes the Brazil sprint pole

# Five members of the Seti family who were shot and killed in Ncenjana village in the Eastern Cape were laid to rest today. The provincial government’s spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie says the service was a moment for reflection, remembrance, and solidarity with the family and friends of the deceased. She says this tragic event is part of a disturbing trend and highlights the urgent need to address violent crime:

Maanwhile KwaZulu-Natal premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says the mass killings in the province are a thorn in the flesh of concerted crime fighting efforts and praises the police for arresting those involved in the mass murders of families. Such mass killings have recently occurred in Hlokozi, near Highflats, in Bergville and at Matimatolo near Greytown. Ntuli says community leaders, businesses and all citizens are encouraged to collaborate closely with the police to create safer neighbourhoods:

# The DA in Johannesburg is demanding the dissolution of the Johannesburg Water board due to the ongoing water crisis in the city. While they welcome mayor Dada Morero’s pledge to add one-billion-rand to the budget for Johannesburg Water, they believe more urgent action is needed. The DA’s Nicole van Dyk is calling for accountability from city leaders and wants the board members to undergo thorough audits to ensure proper management of water resources.

# A further 500 soldiers are being deployed to Spain’s Valencia region after this week’s catastrophic flooding. More than 200 people are known to have died, with most fatalities in and around Valencia, but the death toll is expected to rise further. The BBC reports the new troops will bring in much needed heavy machinery, bulldozers, trucks and help to improve the speed and organisation of the rescue efforts. Local authorities are facing criticism over the speed of the response and for a lack of warnings in advance of the flooding.

# And, motorsport: Oscar Piastri grabbed pole position yesterday for the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix and said he will race to win but conceded that teammate Lando Norris has a greater need of points. Norris is 47 points behind three-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull in the title race with four race weekends left this season. Verstappen, who will face a five-place grid penalty in tomorrow’s Grand Prix after taking another new engine, his sixth this year, qualified fourth behind the McLaren duo and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Stay tuned for more news………….