News 06:00

BULLETIN 25 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Rise Mzansi calls for stronger action amid cases of suspected food poisoning
# The Hawks investigate a South African serving in the Israeli army
# And Louis Liebenberg and his wife remain behind bars for another week

# Rise Mzansi has called for stronger enforcement and regulations following a series of suspected food poisonings in Gauteng, Northern Cape, and Limpopo. The party is calling for a multi-disciplinary investigation, including a review of where spaza shops and retailers source their goods. Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana urges regular updates to prevent misinformation and keep the public calm: 

# Authorities have launched an investigation into the participation in the war in Gaza of a 22-year-old man from Sandton who was identified as a member of an elite sniper unit serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. According to News24, the Hawks are investigating Aaron Bayhack for his alleged role in the Israel-Gaza war which has killed more than 43-thousand Palestinians and one-thousand-139 Israelis. The matter is handled by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit.  The Mercenary Act of South Africa prohibits South Africans from partaking in mercenary activities.

# Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife, Dezzi, will remain in jail for the next week over an alleged four-billion-rand diamond investment scam. The Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng granted bail to three co-accused, Magdelena Kleynhans, Helena Schulenburg, and Walter Niedinger, ranging from 20-thousand-rand to 100-thousand-rand. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says the case will continue on Thursday, as four other accused are preparing their bail applications: 

# The Council for Medical Schemes reports that male breast cancer accounts for approximately 1.8-percent of all breast cancer cases in South Africa. This statistic has highlighted the importance of awareness and screening for men, as many remain unaware that they can be affected by this disease. The council says early detection is crucial for effective treatment and better health outcomes. Initiatives aimed at promoting regular screenings and self-examinations are vital for improving outcomes for all individuals affected by breast cancer in South Africa, including men.

# Cricket: The Proteas’ stand-in Test captain, Aiden Markram, hopes yesterday’s seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Mirpur broke South Africa’s hoodoo in South Asia. This was the first time in over ten years that the country won a Test on the subcontinent. None of the current players have experienced that before. Markram says it’s special for his young, slightly inexperienced team. Regular captain Temba Bavuma could be fit when the second Test starts in Chattogram on Tuesday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-122-dollar-45-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-735-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-49-cents a barrel.

# And finally. The British government will ban the sale of disposable vapes in England starting June 2025, targeting environmental harm and youth vaping. Nearly one in five children aged eleven to 17 have tried vaping, despite sales to minors being illegal. The Labour government plans broader anti-nicotine legislation, calling it the largest public health initiative in a generation. Supporters say vapes help smokers quit, but authorities are concerned about their appeal to children. Five million disposable vapes are discarded weekly, posing environmental and fire risks.

Stay tuned for more news………….