News 07:00

BULLETIN 8 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party vows to stop the judiciary from interfering in parliamentary matters
# Four Soweto learners have died from alleged food poisoning
# And Hurricane Milton: Florida prepares for biggest evacuation in seven years

# The MK Party says it will continue to expose the issues of separation of power, to ensure the judiciary stops interfering in parliamentary matters. This comes as the party’s parliamentary leader John Hlophe has resigned from the Judicial Service Commission. His resignation comes after the Western Cape High Court made an interim ruling preventing Hlophe from serving on the JSC. The MK Party’s spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndlhela, told Newzroom Afrika that it is important to challenge the system:

Meanwhile, the DA says the resignation of Hlophe marks a significant victory for judicial independence. The DA’s spokesperson, Karabo Khakhau, says an impeached judge with a record of gross misconduct should not have a seat on the JSC:

# Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of four learners from a suspected case of food poisoning in Soweto over the past weekend. Three learners from Karabo Primary School aged between seven and nine years old died after allegedly consuming food suspected to have contained poison. A fifth learner, a Grade one boy is in ICU. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says in a separate incident, an eight-year-old boy from Khauhelo Primary School also died after allegedly consuming snacks purchased from a spaza shop in Naledi:

# The National Community Police Consultative Forum has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic shooting of six Community Policing Forum patrollers in Qumbu, Eastern Cape. The attack left six dead and four hospitalised. The Forum spokesperson Siyanda Biyela extended condolences to the victims’ families and called for community support in aiding law enforcement to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators. He has urged unity in the fight against crime.

# Hurricane Milton, which strengthened from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Sunday, is forecast to make landfall in the US tomorrow (Wednesday). The weather system is predicted to hit around the Tampa Bay area before travelling over Orlando. Florida’s emergency management division warned residents to prepare for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. More than 200 people were killed when Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern US, including parts of Florida, last month. Forecasters say some affected areas will likely be hit again, worsening the damage caused by Helene.

# Cricket: Ireland defeated South Africa by 69 runs in the third and final one-day international in Abu Dhabi, with the Proteas winning the series two-one. Captain Paul Stirling scored 88 as Ireland posted 284 for nine. Lizaad Williams claimed four wickets. In reply, debutant Jason Smith scored an impressive 91 from 93 balls, but this was not enough as South Africa was bowled out for 215. The Proteas will now shift their focus to the two-match Test series against Bangladesh later this month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-567-dollar-12-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-643-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….