News 06:00

BULLETIN 1 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA reiterates its call for the Justice minister to step aside
# The Police minister will visit the families of the Lusikisiki victims today
# And Joe Biden calls Hurricane Helene history-making

# The DA has reiterated its call for Justice minister Thembi Simelane to be relieved of her duties. This is amid fresh allegations of discrepancies in her loan agreement from the VBS Mutual Bank fixer Gundo Wealth Investments. According to News24, the loan agreement is likely to have been backdated. The DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach, says Simelane continuing in her role without addressing these serious concerns casts a shadow over her capacity to uphold the justice system she is meant to serve:

Meanwhile, ActionSA is set to lay criminal charges against Simelane over the alleged loan. The loan, exceeding 500-thousand-rand, was reportedly solicited during her tenure as mayor in 2016. With growing pressure for her resignation, president Cyril Ramaphosa has yet to decide on her future. ActionSA’s Malebo Kobe confirms that the charges will be filed today:  

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu will today visit the families of the 18 victims of a tragic mass shooting in Ngobozana village, Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. He will be accompanied by deputy ministers Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo, and national commissioner Fannie Masemola. The shooting occurred during a traditional ritual marking the end of mourning for a mother and daughter. The ministry will discuss safety measures with the community to bring the perpetrators to justice.

# City Power will commence a two-year audit of over 500 mini substations in Roodepoort this week. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena says the audit aims to align account and meter numbers, verify payment statuses, and assess meter conditions. Areas will include Witpoortjie, Honeydew, Florida, Welterden Park, Stormil, Princess, Lufhereng, Laser Park, Groblerspark and Fleurhorf. Mangena has urged residents to grant technicians access, to ensure improved billing accuracy and enhanced service delivery within the distribution network.

# US president Joe Biden has called Hurricane Helene history-making with at least ten states impacted. About 116 people have died after Helene made landfall in Florida last Thursday. It began as a category four hurricane and became the most powerful on record to hit Florida’s Big Bend, before moving north into Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. Biden, who is expected to visit communities hit by Helene later this week, says about 600 people are unaccounted for:

# Cricket: The Proteas’ Test tour of Bangladesh will go ahead this month after a security assessment was conducted following political unrest in the South Asian country. The two teams will take on each other in two Tests, the first one taking place in Dhaka from the 21st, and the second in Chattogram from the 29th. Starting on Thursday, the women’s T20 World Cup has been moved to the United Arab Emirates after prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted in August.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-28-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-432-dollars-42-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-634-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….