News 17:00

BULLETIN 22 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The High Court in Pretoria orders Jacob Zuma to repay 28.9-million-rand in legal fees
# Modi and Trump discuss trade after relations soured over India’s oil purchases from Russia
# And cricket: The Proteas come up on top on the third day in Rawalpindi

# The High Court in Pretoria has ordered former president Jacob Zuma to repay over 28.9-million-rand in legal fees unlawfully funded by the state for his personal corruption trial defence. Judge Anthony Millar ruled that he must also pay the state attorney interest. If the amount is not settled within 60 days, Zuma’s assets may be attached and sold, including his presidential pension. The state attorney must report quarterly on recovery progress. Zuma remains liable for legal costs.

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee member Ashley Sauls has urged suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu to stand by his conviction in his testimony on the need to disband certain police units. Sauls said evidence shows minimal value from the units despite high budgets spent on non-investigative items like laundry. He added the funds could better strengthen core police operations and intelligence. Sauls told Mchunu to prioritise national duty over public opinion:

# The DA has asked Transport minister, Barbara Creecy, for a full investigation into high-value ongoing Road Accident Fund contracts signed under former CEO Collins Letsoalo. Two media contracts worth a combined one-billion-rand have come under the spotlight in Parliament’s inquiry into RAF. The contracts were awarded to MediaMix360 and Dzinge Productions, but have now come under scrutiny for irregularities and apparent overspending. The DA’s Patrick Atkinson says millions were wasted while claimants remain unpaid:

Moving abroad:

# Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump discussed trade as the countries negotiate a deal. Relations plummeted when Trump raised tariffs on Indian exports to the United States to 50-percent and accused India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying Moscow’s oil. India has yet to secure a formal trade deal, despite being among the first nations to initiate negotiations after Trump began his second term. Trump repeated his claim that India would cut Russian oil purchases but New Delhi has neither confirmed nor denied any policy shift.

# Cricket: South Africa came out on top on the third day of the final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The Proteas started badly when they lost four early wickets with a first-innings deficit of 98, but bowlers Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabadi stepped up to take them to 404 – a lead of 71 runs. Simon Harmer then took three quick wickets and Rabada another one to leave Pakistan reeling on 94 for four at stumps for a narrow lead of 23 runs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-43-cents and the euro at 20-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-236-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-59-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-18-cents a barrel

Stay tuned for more news………….