News 14:00

BULLETIN 22 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Consumer inflation edges up to 3.4-percent in September
# The Activists and Citizens Forum calls on Cyril Ramaphosa to disband the Hawks
# And cricket: The bowlers give the Proteas a 71-run first-innings lead against Pakistan

# Statistics South Africa says annual consumer inflation rose slightly to 3.4-percent in September, up from 3.3-percent in August. The increase was mainly driven by higher prices in transportation, restaurants, and accommodation, while inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages eased slightly. Meat prices surged to their highest level since 2018, with stewing beef up 32-percent year-on-year. Stats SA’s Patrick Kelly says milk and eggs, however, are cheaper, with eggs down more than eight-percent:

# Civil society movement, the Activists and Citizens Forum, is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately disband the Hawks. A police investigator, identified only as Witness A, told the Madlanga commission how his team faced attempted interference from members of the Hawks during a large-scale search at the Sandhurst, Johannesburg, home of alleged criminal boss Katiso “KT” Molefe. The forum’s Dennis Bloem says it is clear that some Hawks members are captured by criminal syndicates:

# The University of the Western Cape has strongly condemned the social media hate speech, personal attacks, and defamatory comments aimed at the Dullah Omar Institute and researcher Doctor Jean Redpath, following her contributions to national debates on policing and accountability. UWC rector and vice-chancellor Robert Balfour says UWC affirms academic freedom, supporting Redpath’s right to share evidence-based views while rejecting racism, misogyny, and threats. He asked for responsible moderation on social platforms.

# The South African Friends of Israel says after years of diplomatic blunders and ideological prostituting, the ANC has shown it cannot be trusted to represent the country internationally. It is demanding that the ANC relinquish control of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and hand it over to a government of national unity. SAFI’s Bafana Modise says a new minister from outside the ANC ranks would signal to both citizens and global partners that South Africa is serious about rebuilding its integrity, investment appeal, and global relationships.

# Cricket: The bowlers came to South Africa’s rescue with a mammonth 169 runs for the final three wickets on the third day of the final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The Proteas resumed on 185 for four, a first-innings deficit of 148, and quickly lost four batters. Senuran Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj built a ninth-innings partnership of 71 runs before Maharaj departed. Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada’s tenth-wicket partnership yielded 98 runs, with Rabada scoring his first Test half-century. The Proteas ended on 404 – a lead of 71 runs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-44-cents and the euro at 20-rand-22-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-6-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-74-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-77-cents a barrel

Stay tuned for more news………….