News 11:00

BULLETIN 11 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AZAPO welcomes raids and seizures by Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit in Gauteng
# The GOOD Party says the ceasefire in Gaza is too soon for unbridled celebrations   
# And, on International Day of the Girl, the UDM Women’s Organisation calls for equal investment in girls’ education 

# The Azanian People’s Organisation has welcomed the raids and seizures by the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit at the premises linked to suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and businessman Hangwani Maumela. AZAPO spokesperson Nosipiwo Manona says their alleged role in acts of criminality must be thoroughly investigated:

# The GOOD Party has welcomed reports of a ceasefire in Gaza. The agreement will bring an end to the genocide in Gaza, Hamas will release the Israeli hostages it still holds, and Israel will release Palestinian political prisoners. GOOD Secretary-General, Brett Herron, says these are critical steps to stopping the bloodshed and destruction, but until people know what the future holds for Gazans and it is therefore too soon for unbridled celebrations:

Meanwhile tens of thousands of Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza following the Israeli military’s announcement of a ceasefire, which mediators hope will bring an end to the two-year conflict. Israel agreed to the ceasefire deal with Hamas on Friday morning. Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency said around 200-thousand people have now returned to northern Gaza since the ceasefire was announced. As part of the agreement, Israeli troops pulled back to new agreed positions while Hamas is expected to release the 20 surviving and 28 deceased Israeli hostages on Monday.

# The Gauteng Environment Department, led by MEC Ewan Botha, has dismantled an illegal tyre burning and waste storage site in Ward 82, Geluksdal, Brakpan. Over 400 tyres were being burned to extract metal for scrap without authorisation. Authorities confiscated the tyres and impounded a delivery truck. Botha also found an abandoned business park with water-filled trenches. He urged Ekurhuleni to secure the site, improve waste collection, and formalise recycling under regulations.

# Motorsport: Ducati’s Italian test rider, Michele Pirro, will replace MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez in next week’s Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. The Spaniard was injured in a crash during the Indonesian Grand Prix last weekend after clinching his seventh world title in Japan last month. He is expected to at least miss the next two races in Australia and Malaysia. It’s not yet sure whether Pirro will also take Marquez’s place in Malaysia. The 39-year-old last raced for the VR46 team last season.

# And finally, as the world commemorates the International Day of the Girl, The UDM Women’s Organisation is calling for equal investment in girls’ education, especially in rural and low-income communities. UDM Women’s Organisation secretary-general, Thandi Nontenja, says across South Africa, girls continue to live between promise and prejudice. She says the organisation is calling for gender-responsive budgeting at all levels of government to fund programmes that directly improve the lives of women and girls:

Stay tuned for more news………….