News 06:00

BULLETIN 22 October 6 am

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In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa embarks on a three-nation visit to Southeast Asia
# The Gauteng police are searching for suspects involved in the gang-related Westbury shooting
# And, European leaders are looking to ramp up pressure on Russia

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will embark on a three-nation visit to Southeast Asia from today until Tuesday. The visit aims to strengthen South Africa’s relations in the region and boost cooperation in key sectors. Ramaphosa will visit Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where he will attend the 47th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the trip will focus on promoting trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, and sustainable development.

# Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has defended his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team, saying it did not undermine National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola’s authority. Appearing before Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Mchunu clarified that the unit was established through a political directive from president Cyril Ramaphosa rather than standard SAPS procedures. He maintained that his actions were within his ministerial powers and aligned with constitutional provisions:

# Witness A told the Madlanga commission that businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe, accused of murder, tender fraud, and alleged ties to the ‘Big Five’ criminal cartel, is linked to a group of five individuals involved in mining in North West. He said one member, a man known as Ze from Sandton, is reportedly close to EFF leader Julius Malema, who has ties to the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya:

# Gauteng deputy Police Commissioner, Fred Kekana, says they will leave no stone unturned in tracking down the suspects involved in the deadly shooting in Westbury, west of Johannesburg, on Tuesday afternoon. Two teenagers were shot dead and five others were wounded in what police believe was a gang-related shooting. The victims were aged between 13 and 19. Kekana says the District Crime Intelligence has also been mobilised to assist the Anti-Gang Unit with the tracing of the suspects:

# Eleven European leaders say they support US president Donald Trump’s position that fighting should end immediately in Ukraine, adding that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected the idea of giving up large areas of territory in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as part of a deal with Moscow. The European leaders say they will ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defence industry until president Vladimir Putin is ready to make peace. 

# Cricket: South Africa has a first-innings deficit of 148 runs at the start of the third day of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Protea spinner Keshav Maharaj took the hosts’ remaining five wickets yesterday morning to end with seven scalps when Pakistan was bowled out for 333. Ryan Rickelton lost his wicket early, whereafter Tony de Zorzi contributed 55 and Tristan Stubbs an undefeated 68. He and Kyle Verreyne will resume the Proteas’ innings on 185 for four.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-38-cents and the euro at 20-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-444-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-121-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….