News 17:00

BULLETIN 21 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Witness A claims that Sibiya was unhappy with Katiso “KT” Molefe’s detention location
# Confirmation that Pretoria Zoo’s animals are well-fed amid social media confusion
# And rugby: Edinburgh’s captain, Magnus Bradbury, is recalled to Scotland’s squad after a three-year absence

# Witness A told the Madlanga commission deputy national commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya, was unhappy that businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe had been detained at Pretoria Central Police Station instead of a local station in Sandhurst, Johannesburg. He testified that Molefe was taken to Pretoria Central in December last year for safety reasons, as his arrest was high-risk and there had been potential interference from other police members at the scene:

Meanwhile, suspended minister of Police Senzo Mchunu told Parliament’s ad hoc committee he has known controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi since 2017, but denied a close relationship. Mchunu said they have never met alone and he has never inquired into Mogotsi’s personal life. He requested the committee review his March testimony, insisting he did not lie when he previously stated he does not know Mogotsi:

# The South African National Biodiversity Institute has dismissed social media claims that the Pretoria Zoo urgently needs food for its animals. It clarified that the message began when a Tshwane resident offered to donate branches, which was misinterpreted as an emergency appeal. The zoo confirms there is sufficient food for all animals. Members of the public have been urged to support the zoo through its Adopt-an-Animal programme.

Moving abroad: 

# US vice president JD Vance is in Israel to shore up a fragile Gaza ceasefire deal, after president Donald Trump warned Hamas it would be wiped out if it breached the truce. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner are already in Tel Aviv where they met hostages released by Hamas after two years of captivity in Gaza. Vance is to meet Witkoff, Kushner and US military experts monitoring the truce. According to media reports he will meet Israeli leaders, including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tomorrow.

# Rugby: Edinburgh’s captain, Magnus Bradbury, was recalled to Scotland’s squad for next month’s internationals, three years after winning his last cap. The 30-year-old back-row, who made the last of his 19 Test appearances in 2022, was included in a 45-man squad named by coach Gregor Townsend for the matches at Murrayfield against the United States, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga. Captain Sione Tuipulotu was also recalled after missing the Six Nations through injury and then being involved in the British and Irish Lions’ series victory over Australia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-39-cents and the euro at 20-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-618-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-199-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….