News 17:00

BULLETIN 14 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says local government needs greater focus to improve service delivery
# Five secret witnesses are to testify as the Madlanga commission grants limited media access under strict conditions
# And soccer: A last-minute change to Bafana’s team for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Rwanda

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says local government requires greater focus to improve service delivery and address inequality. In reply to questions in the National Council of Provinces, Ramaphosa said while the City of Cape Town performs well on financial governance, it has shown little progress in reducing inequality. He added that the government has a comprehensive framework in place to monitor the quality of services provided by municipalities:

Meanwhile, Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson and UK minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, Chris Bryant, signed a memorandum of understanding in London to strengthen South Africa’s infrastructure delivery. The partnership provides ten- million-rand in technical expertise for Project Capstone, Project Speed, and Infrastructure South Africa’s Adopt-a-Municipality programme. Macpherson says the collaboration aims to accelerate high-priority projects, improve public asset management, and create jobs, while turning South Africa into a construction site.

# Retired deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has granted limited media access at the ongoing inquiry in Pretoria as five secret witnesses prepare to testify. The agreement between the commission, News24 and Daily Maverick allows remote, off-camera testimony to protect witnesses’ identities while ensuring public access. Chief evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson says the arrangement balances public transparency with the safety of witnesses involved in sensitive corruption investigations:

# Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba has called on families to identify loved ones as post mortems begin tomorrow following Sunday’s Makhado bus crash. She confirmed the death toll has risen to 43, with 45 others injured. The bus was traveling from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi when the driver lost control on the mountainous Jambuzi Valley stretch of the N1. Ramathuba confirmed that authorities continue investigating the cause of the accident:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos had to make a last-minute change to his team for tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Mpumalanga’s Mbombela Stadium. Striker Lyle Foster had to withdraw from the team through injury, and was replaced by Stellenbosch FC’s Ashley Cupido. Tonight is South Africa’s last chance to qualify for next year’s tournament in Northern America after being deducted three points for fielding an illegible player, and playing to a goalless draw to Zimbabwe last week.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-47-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-504-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-107-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….