News 14:00

BULLETIN 3 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Constitutional Court gives reasons for dismissing MK Party’s urgent bid against Ramaphosa over Mchunu’s leave
# National police commissioner Fannie Masemola hands over new helicopters and vehicles to police
# And in motorsport: Oscar Piastri is ready to bounce back at the Singapore Grand Prix

# The Constitutional Court has given reasons for dismissing the MK Party’s urgent bid to overturn president Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. The party and its leader, former president Jacob Zuma, wanted the court to set aside the appointment of acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia. Handing down reasons following the court’s July order that refused direct access, Justice Rammaka Mathopo said direct access was not justified:

# The Constitutional Court has furthermore ruled that limiting parental leave for adoptive parents of children aged two-years or older is unconstitutional. Justice Laura Lumka Tshiqi ruled such provisions unfairly discriminate against adoptive parents and their children, denying them crucial bonding time. She confirmed previous findings that various sections of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act , and corresponding Unemployment Insurance Fund sections, must be amended. Parliament has 36-months to remedy the defects:

# National police commissioner, Fannie Masemola has handed over two brand new helicopters and 12 marshall vehicles to the SAPD Tshwane Academy in Pretoria to boost its existing fleet. Masemola says this forms part of the policing strategy as the country gears up for the launch of the 2025/2026 national safer festive season operations, taking place this upcoming week. The commissioner says the fleet plays a critical role in strengthening national safety and security:

# Motorsport: F1 drivers’ championship leader, Oscar Piastri, says he has learned from his mistakes last time out in Baku. The McLaren driver uncharacteristically crashed out of qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and then repeated the same error on the opening lap of the race and also crashed out. His teammate Lando Norris narrowed his deficit in the title chase to 25 points, heading into this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Piastri says he won’t repeat the mistakes he made in Baku:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-24-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 120-thousand-429-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-864-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-39-cent a barrel.

# And finally: Convicted rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has written a letter to the judge overseeing his criminal trial, asking for leniency during his sentencing expected later today. He blamed his past behaviour on drug addiction and apologised for all of the hurt and pain that he had caused. He stated that he had been reformed after spending 13 months in a Brooklyn jail. In July, he was found guilty of two prostitution charges and now faces up to 20 years in prison.

Stay tuned for more news………….