News 17:00

BULLETIN 17th October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A teen is sentenced to 25 years for the murder of Deveney Nel of Overberg High School
# Venezuela deploys thousands of troops in response to an American buildup in the Caribbean
# And soccer: SAFA confirms a three-year partnership with Adidas

# The Western Cape High Court sentenced an 18-year-old boy to 25-years in prison for the murder of an Overberg High School Grade 10 learner, Deveney Nel, in Caledon. The teen, whose identity is protected under the Children’s Act, was also found guilty of defeating the ends of justice as part of a plea agreement. Deveney’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in a school storeroom on 14 August last year after she was reported missing. The case has reignited debate on South Africa’s Child Justice Act.

# The DA has condemned the delay in releasing January to March’s crime statistics, now seven weeks overdue. DA Police spokesperson Lisa Schickerling says the lack of data hampers stations’ ability to plan and allocate resources, especially ahead of the festive season. She says the DA will write to acting Police minister, Firoz Cachalia, demanding a release date, warning that continued postponements undermine transparency, accountability, and community safety across South Africa:

Police minister Senzo Mchunu meanwhile told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi threatened a fight back after receiving the letter disbanding the political killings task team and freezing crime intelligence appointments. Mchunu said Mkhwanazi expressed his anger through WhatsApp and via his chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, demanding that the letter be withdrawn and warning that it could disrupt police operations and impact his family:

Moving abroad:

# Venezuela deployed thousands of troops near the Colombian border in response to the US military buildup in the Caribbean. US media also reported a new strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat. The United States has sent several military vessels to the Caribbean Sea and launched a series of deadly naval strikes on boats in recent weeks. At least 27 people have been killed in the strikes so far, with the military buildup sparking fears in Caracas that the ultimate goal is a change of government in Venezuela.

# Soccer: SAFA has confirmed a three-year partnership with Adidas to supply kits and gear for all national teams, including Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana, starting on the 24th of March next year. The deal succeeds Le Coq Sportif’s contract, which expires on 31 December. SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao hailed it as a homecoming, while Adidas’ senior brand director, Tom Brown, said the brand will bring innovation to boost South Africa’s soccer success.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-38-cents and the euro at 20-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-478-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-309-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….