News 13:00

BULLETIN 30 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Witness C claims the tenderpreneur Matlala paid 500-thousand-rand towards minister Mchunu’s presidential bid
# Koeberg unit 1 is successfully reconnected to the national grid
# And Cricket: The coach says fixing England Women’s team is not a quick fix

# Witness C has told the Madlanga commission that tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala claimed to have paid about 500-thousand-rand toward Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s ANC presidential campaign. He said Matlala allegedly made the payments through businessman Brown Mogotsi to cover flights and accommodation for the ANC’s January 8 celebrations. C says Matlala believed his support for Mchunu would protect him from police investigations, but later felt betrayed when his 360-million-rand police tender was cancelled:

Meanwhile, Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing corruption in the criminal justice system may miss its November 28 deadline. Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane says over 250 submissions still need review. Evidence leader Norman Arendse says some witnesses will submit written statements, while others, including Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo remain unavailable. Khumalo is yet to conclude his testimony at the Madlanga commission. Lekganyane adds that suspended Inspector-General for Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel is not cooperating and should be summoned on 21 November. The hearings will resume next week.

# Eskom says it has successfully reconnected unit one at the Koeberg nuclear power station in Cape Town to the national grid. The unit was shut early this year for the second phase of its long-term operation maintenance programme, a requirement of its 20-year life extension granted by the National Nuclear Regulator. Both units one and two are expected to provide over one-thousand-860-megawatts to the national grid. Eskom says this achievement reflects its commitment to the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the power plant.

Moving abroad:

# The German government has backed an increase in the minimum wage to 291-rand per hour, the largest hike since the country adopted a minimum wage a decade ago. The increase will come in two stages. Labour minister Baerbel Bas says six-million employees will receive noticeably more for their work and companies can responsibly spread the rising costs over two years. An independent commission, made up of economists, trade union leaders and representatives from business and employer groups, recommended the two-stage increase back in June.

# Cricket: England Women’s coach Charlotte Edwards has admitted transforming the team’s fortunes will not be a quick fix. This follows after they were knocked out of the one-day World Cup. England won five games from eight appearances across the tournament before suffering a 125-run defeat to South Africa in yesterday’s semifinal in Guwahati, India. Edwards says she is nonetheless proud of what the team has achieved:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-21-cents and the euro at 20-rand-2-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-267-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-four-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….