News 08:00

BULLETIN 25 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU calls for a new municipal funding model to fix local government
# The MK Party challenges the IEC’s rejection of candidate list corrections
# And the nationwide protests in France are largely peaceful

# COSATU says a new municipal funding model is needed to ensure the Revised White Paper on Local Government succeeds in stabilising and rebuilding municipalities. The document proposes interventions to improve local government and ensure communities receive municipal services, including free basic services for indigent households. COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks says competent and qualified managers and leaders must be appointed, while corrupt and criminal elements must be removed from municipalities:

# The MK Party has condemned the Electoral Commission’s refusal to accommodate its requests to correct and amend its candidate lists for the upcoming local government elections. The party says the requested changes included ward candidate placements, omitted candidates, and candidates who have died, arguing that these issues affect its electoral preparations and participation. The IEC rejected the amendments, citing the Constitutional Court judgment in the ANC versus IEC matter, which it says did not reopen the nomination process beyond restoring nominations already captured on its online system before the deadline.

# Suspended South African Police Service Sergeant Fannie Nkosi has resigned from the police service amid serious misconduct allegations and pending disciplinary proceedings. Nkosi, who was attached to the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, faces criminal charges including theft, fraud and defeating the ends of justice. The charges follow a police raid at his Pretoria North home, where officers reportedly recovered police case dockets, ammunition, firearms-related items and cash. Nkosi has also been linked to allegations raised during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into alleged corruption and criminality within the criminal justice system.

# The City of Tshwane has lifted the boil-water advisory affecting the Pretoria CBD and surrounding areas supplied by the Findlay Reservoir. Mayor Nasiphi Moya confirmed the decision after water-quality monitoring and laboratory tests found no detectable E. coli or total coliform bacteria in the latest samples taken from the reservoir:

# Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched in France yesterday, with largely peaceful rallies giving way to clashes ​in Paris and Marseille as night fell. French law enforcement agencies deployed more than 70-thousand police officers across the country to prevent a repeat of last week’s unrest. The Interior Ministry said more than 400-thousands people ‌took part in protests, though unions said the true figure was twice as high. The main demonstration took place on the southeastern fringes of Paris, where at least 110-thousand people turned out to denounce rising living costs and growing inequality.

# And rugby: The Stormers defeated the Scarlets 52-40 in a thrilling fourth-round United Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town last night. The home side led 33-14 at half-time, but the Welsh visitors fought back to level the scores at 40-all with 15 minutes remaining. Replacement scrum-half Yaqeen Ahmed proved the match-winner, scoring two late tries to secure the Stormers’ bonus-point victory. The result extends their unbeaten record against the Scarlets to six matches.

Stay tuned for more news………….