News 13:00

BULLETIN 5 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC will remove councillors working against the party
# Telkom donates land worth R3.9-million to boost school infrastructure
# And Russia rains drones and missiles on Ukraine

# The ANC will intervene in local governance in provinces, removing mayors and councillors who work against the party’s interests. Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula emphasised at a special ANC NEC meeting that the party will focus on tightening candidate vetting and strengthening its internal processes:

# Three people died and two others were seriously injured in an accident involving a truck and a light motor vehicle on the N2 in Ophongolo. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma sent condolences to the families and confirmed investigations are underway. Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya says MEC Duma will intensify operations over 17 weighbridges across the province to curb truck-related accidents as authorities work to restore safety on provincial roads:

# City Power has disconnected six properties owing millions in unpaid electricity bills during its latest revenue recovery drive in Johannesburg. The operation, led by the Hursthill Service Delivery Centre and law enforcement, targeted defaulters in Auckland Park, Northcliff, Fairland, and Westdene. Arrears ranged from 600-thousand-rand to 2.3-million-rand. City Power urged customers to continue paying while queries are investigated, reaffirming its commitment to recover 1.6-billion-rand in outstanding debt.

# Telkom has donated land valued at 3.9-million-rand to the Department of Basic Education to support school infrastructure in Gauteng and the Western Cape. The pledge was made during a meeting attended by Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube as part of her private-sector engagement drive. Telkom Group Chief of Corporate Affairs Mpho McNamee said the company is investing in sustainable education solutions. Gwarube welcomed the partnership, calling it key to addressing infrastructure backlogs and improving access to quality learning environments.

# NATO member Poland said it scrambled aircraft early today to ensure its air safety after Russia launched airstrikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported missiles and drones rained down on the Lviv region near the Polish border. All of Ukraine was under air raid alerts for several hours overnight, with Ukraine’s Air Force issuing the most dire warnings of missile and drone attacks for the Lviv region. Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, said the city’s air defence systems were engaged heavily in repelling first a drone and then a Russian missile attack.

# And, Cricket: Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja starred with both bat and ball as India hammered the Windies by an innings and 140 runs inside three days of the first test yesterday. India declared on their overnight 448-5, a lead of 286, and then bundled the West Indies out for 146 in the second session at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. It was another demoralising defeat for West Indies, who are a pale shadow of the team that once ruled world cricket. The second test begins on October 10 in New Delhi.

Stay tuned for more news………….