News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A family spokesperson views Nathi Mthethwa’s body ahead of repatriation
# The British prime minister says the pro-Palestinian protests planned for today are disrespectful
# And rugby: Beauden Barrett is fit for the All Blacks’ November tour

# Late ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s family spokesperson, Sfiso Buthelezi, told Newzroom Afrika he has viewed the ambassador’s body at the mortuary as per the family’s wishes ahead of repatriation. Mthethwa died last week after reportedly falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris. His remains are expected to leave France on Thursday and arrive in South Africa on Friday. Buthelezi previously confirmed that a cultural spirit-fetching ritual will be observed:

# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola has confirmed the safe arrival of the Global Sumud Flotilla activists in Jordan. He says South African ambassador Tselane Mokuena was present to receive the delegation on behalf of the country. Lamola reiterates government’s profound gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to this successful outcome through their cooperation and support. He says the delegation is scheduled to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng tomorrow morning:

# British prime minister Keir Starmer urged students to skip pro-Palestinian protests planned for the second anniversary of Hamas’s attack in Israel on 7 October 2023, suggesting they were disrespectful. Students from several London universities were due to walk out of classes this afternoon before marching through the centre of the British capital. Rallies or events including vigils were also planned in other UK cities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield and Manchester, where an attack outside a synagogue on Thursday left two people dead.

# Rugby: All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett should be fit to travel to the Northern Hemisphere for their November tour after recovering from a shoulder injury. Prop Ethan de Groot and winger Caleb Clarke are also back from injury, but versatile forward Tupou Vaa’I, winger Emoni Narawa, scrumhalf Noah Hotham and prop Tyrel Lomax won’t be available for the tour. New Zealand first play Ireland in Chicago on the first of next month, followed by Tests against Scotland, England and Wales in Europe.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-18-cents and the euro at 20-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 124-thousand-360-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-956-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cape Town has been included in TimeOut’s best 20 places to visit between October this year and February 2026. This follows as countries in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing colder weather during this period. Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, known for having turquoise waters and cloud-free skies pretty much all year round, tops the list. Namibia is second, followed by Cyprus, Bali in Indonesia, and Spain’s Alicante wraps up the top five. Cape Town is 17th on the list, recognised for its luscious natural scenery and sandy beaches, and blue skies in the summer months.

Stay tuned for more news………….