News 07:00

BULLETIN 20 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electricity minister says nuclear is a big part of South Africa’s future
# Archbishop Makgoba reports a strong church support for the national dialogue
# And, Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement

# Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africa will be ramping up electricity generation from gas and nuclear in the next 15 years. The minister gave a briefing on Sunday on the Integrated Resource Plan following its approval by Cabinet. By 2039, the government aims to add 105-thousand megawatts of new generation capacity. Ramokgopa says the country’s Pebble Bed Modular Reactor will be revived to boost nuclear capacity:

# The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has resolved to send a final letter to former Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo, urging him to appear as a witness in its oversight enquiry. Letsoalo has repeatedly challenged SCOPA’s authority, arguing the matter falls under the Transport Committee. SCOPA maintains its mandate to probe RAF’s financial management, losses, and maladministration. This past week, evidence on one-billion-rand in contracts and protection services was heard.

# Archbishop Thabo Makgoba says reports from Anglican bishops nationwide show strong backing for the National Dialogue, particularly in communities hardest hit by service delivery failures. Speaking in Cape Town, Archbishop Makgoba urged South Africans to attend local dialogues, describing the process as a ray of hope against corruption, incompetence, and under-development. The Archbishop stressed that despite urban elite cynicism, grassroots support is growing, and communities are encouraged to engage actively to restore accountability and good governance.

# The DA has written to Tshwane municipal manager, Johann Mettler, asking for an investigation into water tanker spending in the metro. Water tanker expenditure in the financial year that ended in June 2025 was 457-million-rand over budget, and 672-million-rand more than officials spent in 2024. The DA’s Cilliers Brink says the emergency supply of water to formalised areas by water tanker trucks is now the single biggest operational expenditure item of the Tshwane Department of Water and Sanitation:

# Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the US-brokered ceasefire agreement. The Israeli Defence Force says Hamas attacked its forces in Rafah in southern Gaza with rocket-propelled grenades and sniper fire, prompting the IDF to carry out strikes in the area. Israel has also halted humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to act forcefully against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Hamas says it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement.

# Golf: South Africa’s Warwick Purchase claimed his first Sunshine Tour title with a two-stroke victory at the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club in Gauteng. His compatriot, Kyle Barker, signed for a 69 to finish tied second with Fortress Rookie of the Year leader Mexico’s Luis Carrera on 17 under par. Purchase, who came into the tournament having missed the cut in his previous four events on the Sunshine Tour, says it feels rewarding to break through with a maiden victory finally:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-35-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-33-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-257-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….