News 06:00

BULLETIN 24 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africa and Vietnam have elevated their relationship
# Witness B says she can now die peacefully knowing the truth has been exposed
# And cricket: Miller and Coetzee are on the Proteas’ injury list

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa welcomes Vietnam’s proposal to elevate the two nations’ bilateral relationship from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership. The president is on a two-day state visit to Vietnam as part of a three-nation visit to Southeast Asia. South Africa is Vietnam’s largest trade and export partner in Africa. Ramaphosa says elevating the bilateral relationship between the two nations is a reflection of the growing importance of Southeast Asia to South Africa:

# Former Police minister Bheki Cele has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala claimed he was approached to fund a project for someone aiming to become ANC president or deputy president, allegedly involving suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu. Cele said Matlala confirmed meetings with Mchunu and Brian Mogotsi, which Mchunu denied. He said that Matlala informed him of a plot to sideline SAPS Crime Intelligence head, Dumisani Khumalo:

# KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has amended his testimony before the Parliamentary ad hoc committee, withdrawing his previous allegation that former Police minister Bheki Cele received money from Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Cele confirmed he was aware of the earlier claims. While Mkhwanazi’s revised evidence removes the direct payment allegation, questions remain about Cele’s past connections to Matlala, who has been linked to criminal infiltration within the police.

# Witness B told the Madlanga commission she can now die peacefully knowing her testimony has revealed the truth about corruption and violence within the police. She thanked KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for his courage in exposing issues others feared to confront. Concluding her testimony in a secret remote location, Witness B criticised acting Gauteng judge president Aubrey Ledwaba’s decision to grant murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe bail:

# The University of Cape Town faces a legal challenge after adopting two resolutions on the Israel-Gaza conflict without fully considering potential consequences. News24 reports professor Adam Mendelsohn has approached the High Court in the Western Cape to overturn the council’s decisions. Mendelsohn argues the university ignored financial and reputational risks, including the withdrawal of 200-million-rand in donations and halted funding from the Dell Foundation. He seeks to have the resolutions declared unlawful, unconstitutional, and invalid. The court also heard that he remains suspended despite a May investigation clearing him.

# Cricket: Experienced batter David Miller will miss the T20 series against Pakistan, while fast bowler Gerald Coetzee won’t play in the T20s or the one-day series. Miller, who was named captain for the T20s while Aiden Markram is rested, sustained a leg injury and Donovan Ferreira will lead the team. Coetzee was ruled out due to a pectoral muscle injury. Tony de Zorzi will make his T20 debut after impressing in the Test series, while Matthew Breetzke will captain the ODI team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-34-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-113-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-17-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….