News 14:00

BULLETIN 17th October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mchunu admits he didn’t consult his cabinet colleagues on the political killings task team disbandment
# Ramaphosa highlights social justice as key to equality and sustainability
# And Table Mountain and the cableway are nominated for two global titles at the 2025 World Travel Awards

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu told Parliament’s ad hoc committee he did not consult his cabinet colleagues before issuing the directive to disband the political killings task team. According to Mchunu, safety concerns raised by whistleblowers prevented him from discussing the matter directly with the officers involved. He said his decision was lawful, aimed at improving policing without duplicating functions within the police structure:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the seventh Social Justice Summit, themed “Social Justice, Food Security and Peace,” comes at a crucial time. Speaking at Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice, Ramaphosa described social justice as a process ensuring equitable wealth and opportunity distribution. He says the summit’s theme aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030, aimed at fostering social justice, eliminating poverty, and reducing inequality:

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi has confirmed steady progress in developing the SABC’s new funding model. The process, led by the technology advisory firm BMIT, includes ongoing stakeholder engagements to shape the broadcaster’s financial framework. He told SABC News work may extend over the festive season, with possible timeline adjustments under consideration, preferably at no cost, to ensure a sustainable model for the SABC:

# Rugby: The Bulls kick off South Africa’s participation in the fourth round of the United Rugby Championship season against Connacht in Galway, Ireland, this evening. Tomorrow, the Lions will welcome Welsh outfit Llanelli Scarlets to Johannesburg, and the Sharks will host Irish team Ulster in Durban. The Stormers play away against Zebre in Italy later. The undefeated Stormers are currently on top of the log, with the Bulls in sixth position. The Sharks are 13th and the Lions 15th.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-45-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-25-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-340-dollars-5-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

# And, Table Mountain and its famous cableway have been nominated for two global titles at the 2025 World Travel Awards. Table Mountain is up for the world’s leading tourist attraction, and the cableway for the world’s leading cable car ride. They are the only South African nominees this year. Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company managing director, Wahida Parker, urges South Africans to vote before 26 October as the cableway celebrates 96 years and over 32-million visitors.

Stay tuned for more news………….