News 08:00

BULLETIN 2 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulates president-elect Duma Boko of Botswana on the country’s election outcome
# ActionSA wants the NPA boss to review the decision to withdraw the corruption charges against Kodwa
# And, motorsport: Verstappen is under scrutiny in Sao Paulo

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated the new Botswana president-elect Duma Boko and the government and people of Botswana on the success of the recently concluded election in the country. The president’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says Ramaphosa commends the Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition on its success under the leadership of Boko and welcomes outgoing president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s preparations for a transition that follows 58 years of governance by the Botswana Democratic Party:

# ActionSA will formally write to the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, to review the decision to withdraw corruption charges against former minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa. Kodwa was accused of accepting a 1.7-million-rand bribe in exchange for influencing the awarding of lucrative government contracts. ActionSA’s Athol Trollip says the party will request a record of the decision that led to this sudden reversal:

In another development, the The ANC has welcomed the NPA’s decision to withdraw all charges against Kodwa. In June, Kodwa voluntarily stepped aside in line with the ANC’s resolutions on renewal and integrity, prioritising transparency and accountability. The director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng, Andrew Chauke, dropped the case after reviewing new evidence. The ANC reaffirms its commitment to justice and the rule of law, and it remains committed to supporting fair and transparent judicial processes that enhance public trust in its leadership.

# US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has sued CBS News over its interview with vice-president Kamala Harris on the programme 60 Minutes. He wants ten-billion dollars from the network, claiming the interview was doctored. This is despite CBS explaining why two clips of different answers were aired. At a rally in Nevada, Trump told supporters “we’re gonna have to lock them up”, after what he calls a misleading interview with his rival. The suit has been filed in a Texas court.

# And, motorsport: Three-time world champion Max Verstappen will be under intensified scrutiny this weekend when defending his reputation and his lead in the drivers’ world championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. His driving tactics have sparked calls for regulation changes. However, Verstappen remains defiant, attributing his aggressive style to the car’s performance and inconsistent steward decisions. According to Mercedes’ George Russell, the drivers were 19 of 20 in favour of a regulation change to end a tactic that former champion Damon Hill said enables Verstappen to use his car as a weapon.

Stay tuned for more news………….