News 07:00

BULLETIN 31 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Political parties to cap their election campaigns with final rallies this weekend
# Political funding dispute between GOOD Party and IEC heads to SCA
# And cricket, Australia need 288 to win the third Test and series, while South Africa need ten wickets

# Political parties will hold their final rallies this weekend as they make a final push ahead of the local government elections. Today, the DA will have its final national rally at Moretele Park in Mamelodi, Tshwane, while the EFF will be hosting its Tshela Thupa rally at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. On Sunday, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the party’s Siyanqoba rally at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. The IFP’s final rally will be held at the Prince Mangosuthu Regional Stadium in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal.

# The GOOD Party has been granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal against an Electoral Court ruling under the Political Party Funding Act. GOOD is challenging a finding linked to an alleged undeclared donation and an administrative fine imposed on the party. GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron argues the party’s leadership was unaware of the arrangement and was not allowed to respond to a forensic report before the case went to court:

# The National Prosecuting Authority says the charges against former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head Andrea Johnson and Former Crime Intelligence deputy Feroz Khan are very serious. The two were granted bail of ten-thousand-rand each in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday. At the centre of the allegations is a 2018 assault and intimidation complaint involving Khan. NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says Johnson, without permission, allegedly disclosed information to Khan, and they both acted in common purpose to hinder prosecution against Khan:

# The Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of African Horse Sickness in the Cederberg in the Western Cape. Movement restrictions have been imposed. The virus was detected in one horse, and no permits will be issued to move horses out of the affected area. Minister Willie Aucamp urged horse owners to report symptoms and avoid vaccinating their animals during this period, as this could worsen the spread of the disease.

# Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is undertaking a major security overhaul after hackers broke into its digital wallets and stole about 104.77-billion-rand, in what has been described as the biggest heist in history. An initial investigation suggested the hack went through an engineer’s laptop to gain access to a service container and submit unauthorised withdrawal transactions. Experts have identified North Korea as the likely culprit. Binance Co-CEO Richard Teng believes there was more than one hacker involved in the “complex attack”:

# Cricket: Australia will need 288 to win the third and final Test and the series against South Africa on day five in Cape Town today. Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder both scored centuries as the Proteas were dismissed for 387 in their second innings, a lead of 287 runs. Rickelton scored 101 from 219 balls, his third Test century and second at Newlands, while Mulder top-scored with 115 from 204 balls, also his third Test century. Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, taking three wickets.

Stay tuned for more news………….