News 14:00

BULLETIN 5 November 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# More sensational evidence before the Madlanga commission
# The surge in imported sugar threatens South Africa’s cane industry
# And Russia says Ukrainian soldiers in two encircled cities should surrender to save themselves

# National deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has been accused of drafting a false affidavit for controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala after a raid at his home. Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo told the Madlanga commission former Police minister Bheki Cele informed him that Matlala approached him. Khumalo says Cele claimed that Sibiya advised Matlala to falsely claim the theft of a Rolex, a woman’s watch, and a laptop, implicating Khumalo and his team of theft:

# The GOOD Party has expressed disappointment at the George Municipality’s decision to withdraw its nearly ten-million-rand recovery claim against the owners of the collapsed building property in Victoria Street. A total of 34 workers were killed in last year’s building collapse. The site will be auctioned later this month so that liquidators can recover their money from the owners. GOOD’s Chantelle Kyd says it is clear that accountability is optional when it comes to powerful or well-connected property owners:

# Industry body SA Canegrowers has raised alarm over a 400-percent surge in imported sugar, warning it is devastating local sales and threatening thousands of rural jobs in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Local sugar sales have dropped 13-percent year-on-year, amounting to a 100-thousand-ton loss. The organisation accuses subsidised imports from countries like Brazil of distorting prices. It calls on government to strengthen trade protections and scrap the sugar tax to safeguard the struggling local industry.

# Russia says Ukrainian soldiers in Pokrovsk and Kupiansk are encircled and should surrender, as they have no chance of survival. Russia has been trying to capture Pokrovsk since last year as part of an attempt to take the whole of the Donbas region. Ukrainian forces still control about ten-percent of the region – about five-thousand square kilometres. Russia’s Defence Ministry directly contradicted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement on Monday that Ukrainian forces were trying to clear what he said were just 60 Russian soldiers in Kupiansk.

# Cricket: Australia has named three uncapped players for the first Ashes Test against England in Perth, starting on the 21st. Opening batter Jake Weatherald and fast bowlers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett could make their debuts for the national team. Marnus Labuschagne has been recalled, while all-rounder Mitch Marsh and Matt Renshaw miss out. Steve Smith will captain the side in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins. Chief selector George Bailey has faith in Weatherald:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-48-cents and the euro at 20-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-716-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-964-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….