News 08:00

BULLETIN 6 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC is calling for a reduction in the fuel and Road Accident Fund levies
# The police confirm the disciplinary hearing against Shadrack Sibiya will continue next week
# And, the bestselling author and politician Jeffrey Archer dies at 86

# The ANC is calling on National Treasury to consider reducing fuel and Road Accident Fund levies to help cushion South Africans from the impact of record fuel price increases. Petrol prices will go up between three-rand-12-cents and three-rand-33-cents per litre from tomorrow; diesel prices by between two-rand-84-cents and three-rand-24-cents a litre, while illuminating paraffin rises by four-rand-77-cents a litre. The ANC’s Fasiha Hassan says higher fuel prices mean a higher cost of living for already struggling citizens:

# The South African Police Service says the disciplinary hearing against suspended deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, was held on Monday, despite false reports that it was halted. He is accused of corruption and misconduct arising from the Madlanga Commission. Sibiya remains in custody over separate allegations of rape and sexual grooming. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says Sibiya requested a postponement to allow him additional time to consult with his legal team, which was granted and the hearing is set to resume next Monday:

# The Gauteng Department of Community Safety is calling on public transport and learner transport operators to exercise caution and drive responsibly as schools reopen today for the final term of the academic year. The department’s Sello Maremane says non-compliance with traffic laws and unsafe transport practices will not be tolerated where they place the lives of learners and other road users at risk. He adds that learner transport operators are reminded that the safety of children must remain a priority:

# Tennis: World number four Coco Gauff says she suffered racial abuse on social media following an incident in her win over Sun Xinran at the China Open. The American was serving 4-5 in the first set when Sun thought she had hit a winner, but Gauff stopped play over a flickering light in the side panels around the court. She went on to win the match, 7-5, 6-1, to reach the last 16 in Beijing. Gauff explained the situation in a social media post, emphasising that she is not a cheater.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents and the euro at 18-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-546-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-129-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

# And finally, bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86. He enjoyed a successful career as a novelist, selling over 300 million copies worldwide, including the Clifton Chronicles and Kane and Abel. Archer’s political career started in 1967, and he was a Conservative member of Parliament for five years before serving as the party’s deputy chairman. He was imprisoned for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001 and was released in 2003. Archer’s final novel, Adam ‌And Eve, is due to be published today.

Stay tuned for more news………….