News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Witness A reveals links between the Armand Swart murder suspects and a notorious taxi boss
# The ANC and COSATU meet to strengthen their alliance and address economic challenges
# And cricket: England beats New Zealand comprehensively in the second T20 in Christchurch

# The Madlanga commission has heard how some police officers allegedly tried to hinder the investigation into the murder of Q-Tech Engineering engineer Armand Swart. Testifying from a safe house, Witness A said after the arrest of three suspects, including detective Michael Pule Tau, investigators were warned about interference from police. He told the commission the suspects were linked to Gauteng’s “big five” criminal syndicate, the late taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, and a Hawks officer known only as “Zungu”:

# The ANC and labour federation COSATU are holding a bilateral meeting at COSATU House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, to strengthen their alliance and discuss workers’ concerns. The ANC is presenting its economic action plan for feedback. COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks says talks will focus on improving workers’ rights, service delivery, and job creation. He says the meeting reflects on economic performance, unemployment, and strengthening cooperation ahead of next year’s local government election:

# EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised Operation Dudula leader, Zandile Dabula, following her live eNCA interview when asked about frontline states. Dabula struggled to respond, shifting the discussion to unrelated topics. Sharing the clip on social media, Malema highlighted her lack of historical knowledge. Operation Dudula, known for opposing undocumented immigration, has faced accusations of xenophobia, which Dabula denies. She insists the group enforces immigration laws to protect South African citizens.

# Cricket: England punished some lax New Zealand fielding to win the second T20 international in Christchurch by 65 runs after the opening match was washed out. The visitors raced to a mammoth 236 for four after the Black Caps won the toss and elected to field at Hagley Oval. England skipper Harry Brook with 78 and opener Phil Salt with 85 punished the bowlers. England’s spinner, Adil Rashid with four wickets for 32 runs was the main destroyer as New Zealand were bowled out for 171.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-25-cents and the euro at 20-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-875-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-326-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Award-winning South African author Imraan Coovadia’s short story, Vast and Cool and Unsympathetic, has been shortlisted for the International Science Fiction Literary Awards. It has been shortlisted in the Foreign Language category. The story is inspired by psychological consequences suffered by people in Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, who had been hired to screen and classify disturbing content on Facebook. Coovadia is among 27 authors who have been shortlisted from more than two-thousand-400 submissions received globally. The award ceremony will be held in Russia on November 6.

Stay tuned for more news………….