News 16:00

BULLETIN 7 November 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A political analyst says the seizure of Mchunu’s devices signals faster investigations 
# Foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed on a farm near Gouda in the Western Cape 
# And rugby: George Gregan criticises the decision to swop the Rugby Championship for an All Blacks tour next year

# Political analyst Dirk Kotzé says the confiscation of suspended Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s devices indicates investigative processes are gaining momentum. The KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team seized five devices from Mchunu’s Pretoria home this morning amid a probe into alleged political interference and corruption in the justice system. Kotzé told Newzroom Afrika time will tell what is revealed once investigations conclude:

# The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of foot-and-mouth disease on a farm near Gouda. The affected property and two others in Velddrift and Bredasdorp have been placed under quarantine, while all farms within a ten-kilometre radius are under inspection. Veterinary teams are investigating a transport company linked to the outbreak. State veterinarian Lesley van Helden urged farmers not to move any cloven-hoofed animals until further notice:

# The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, is developing a Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap for Agriculture. The roadmap will enhance institutional coordination, drive innovation and support the transformation of South Africa’s agrifood system into one that is inclusive and resilient. The department’s Maneshree Jugmohan-Naidu says the roadmap will also promote the development of new high-value crops, livestock and agro-processed products:

# Rugby: Legendary Wallaby scrumhalf George Gregan criticised the decision for the Rugby Championship to make way for a full-blown All Blacks tour of South Africa next year. He says the break comes at the worst possible time after this year’s championship delivered a thrilling competition. Gregan points out it’s taken a long time for the championship to become as popular as the Six Nations. He added imagine postponing the Six Nations for a year because England wants to play France instead.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-33-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 99-thousand-717-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-996-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

#  And finally, a man who discovered around 14-million-rand worth of gold bars and coins while digging a swimming pool in his garden in France, have been told he can keep it. The unnamed man found the hoard at his home in a town outside Lyon in May, and reported it to the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs. A spokesperson for the local authority says officals at the directorate had just ruled he could keep it, as there was no sign it was archaeological treasure.

Stay tuned for more news………….