News 15:00

BULLETIN 19 N0vember 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Senzo Mchunu commits to crime-free construction sites
# A 14-year-old learner is killed and two are injured in a shooting incident in Elsies River, Cape Town
# And cricket: Temba Bavuma returns from an injury to lead the Proteas in two Tests against Sri Lanka

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has pledged the South African Police Service’s full commitment to eliminating organised crime on construction sites, disrupting key projects and hampering economic growth. Speaking at the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s national construction summit in Durban, Mchunu promised collaboration with state and private partners to create safe, crime-free construction sites. He also urged construction companies to report crimes promptly: 

# A 14-year-old Ravensmead High School learner was fatally shot on his way to school in Elsies River, Cape Town. According to News24, two other victims, aged 15 and 17, were taken to hospital. Gunmen reportedly got out of a vehicle on Donnegal Avenue and opened fire before fleeing into St Andrew’s Technical High School grounds, causing panic and lockdowns at nearby schools. Parents began collecting their children as safety concerns grew. Western Cape police have increased security and are investigating the motive for the attack.

# Britain and India will resume stalled talks to agree a free-trade deal. The two countries made the announcement after their leaders met at the G20 summit in Brazil. Prime minister Keir Starmer, who took power in London in July, hailed his meeting with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as very productive and vowed that a trade pact with Delhi would boost UK growth. Starmer’s office confirmed the two countries would relaunch the talks in the new year as Britain sought a new strategic partnership with India.

# Cricket: Captain Temba Bavuma returns for South Africa’s two-match Test series against Sri Lanka after an injury kept him out of the Tests in Bangladesh. Allrounder Marco Jansen and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee return to Test cricket for the first time since last season’s series against India. Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Wiaan Mulder are the other pace bowlers, and Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy the spinners. The series starts in Durban on the 27th, followed by the Test in Gqeberha from 5 December.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-8-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 91-thousand-725-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-634-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A study by the Graça Machel Trust has highlighted persistent societal prejudices, gender pay gaps, and unequal access to finance faced by women. These findings were presented at the Women in Wealth 2025 summit in Johannesburg. The three-day event is aimed at fostering economic and social transformation for women and youth across the continent. During a keynote address, former First Lady Graça Machel called for the promotion of access to markets, finance, and investments for women:

Stay tuned for more news………….