News 08:00

BULLETIN 16 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party accuses the Special Investigation Unit of being a presidential hit squad
# The police identify four suspects linked to the Lusikisiki massacre
# And Julius Malema says Ray McCauley walked in the same footsteps as Desmond Tutu

# The MK Party has accused the Special Investigating Unit of being a presidential hit squad, initiating investigations for political ends. The SIU delivered a presentation on its annual report to Parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice and Constitutional Development yesterday. The MK Party’s chief whip, Mzwanele Manyi, also expressed doubt about the independence of the SIU, since it relies on a proclamation being signed by the president before it can initiate a probe:

# Police have launched a manhunt for four men they believe could be linked to the Lusikisiki massacre that saw 18 people killed in the Eastern Cape last month. The suspects are Songezo Vuma, Bonga Hintsa, Aphiwe Ndende, and Lwando Anthony Shakes. On Tuesday, one of the men already arrested in connection with the murders, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, abandoned his bail application. National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says they believe these suspects would be able to assist in solving the mass murders:

# The UK government has imposed sanctions on three illegal settler outposts and four organisations, that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. This follows an unprecedented rise in settler violence in the West Bank over the past year. The United Nations has recorded over one-thousand-400 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities since October last year. UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, says the inaction of the Israeli government has allowed an environment of impunity to flourish, where settler violence has been allowed to increase unchecked.

# Soccer: South Africa remains second in Group K behind Uganda after playing out to a one-all draw with Congo in Brazzaville in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Bafana Bafana’s Elias Mokwana’s goal in the 33rd minute was cancelled out by Mons Bassouamina’s strike on the stroke of halftime. South Africa will need to win either of their remaining two qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan in November to book their place in Afcon.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-16-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-147-dollars-15-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-665-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

# And finally, EFF leader Julius Malema has likened the late pastor Ray McCauley to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, saying he was an elder of the nation and a man of peace. The founder of Rhema Bible Church passed away last week at the age of 75. His memorial service will be held on Thursday and his funeral on Saturday. Malema, who visited McCauley’s family yesterday, says pastor McCauley was often the voice of reason and mediation in dire circumstances:

Stay tuned for more news………….