News 08:00

BULLETIN 6 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Maimane says South Africa is not best served by having multiple parties
# A manhunt is underway following the killing of five people in Bronkhorstspruit
# And rugby: The Lions suffer second consecutive defeat in the United Rugby Championships

# Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane says there is a desperate need for change, as the country is not best served by having multiple parties. BOSA has joined forces with the GOOD Party and RISE Mzansi to form one political party, Unite for Change, which will contest the 2026 local government elections. Maimane says local government gives them the prospect under one umbrella of being able to put something on the ballot that works:

# Deputy Finance minister David Masondo has described the suspension of Public Investment Corporation chief investment officer Kabelo Rikhotso as a prudent fiduciary decision. Rikhotso, who is expected to defend himself against allegations of impropriety against him by a whistleblower, was placed on precautionary suspension last week. The PIC board stressed that the suspension aims to ensure a fair, objective, and independent investigation, and does not imply any finding of wrongdoing at this stage. Masondo says the investigation will be driven by good governance rather than politics.

# Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for two suspects following the fatal shooting of five people at a tavern in Zithobeni near Bronkhorstspruit on Sunday. It is understood that two armed suspects entered the tavern and robbed a patron of his licensed firearm. Police spokesperson Brenda Muridili says during the robbery, the suspects reportedly opened fire at random. Six people were wounded. Muridili says a case of murder and robbery has been opened:

# US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israel needs to stop bombing Gaza for an eventual release of hostages by Hamas to take place, and the end of the war. Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the US are set to hold talks in Egypt starting today in hopes of finalising an agreement based on president Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan. Rubio told ABC that negotiations to end the war in Gaza need to happen very fast, otherwise the plan becomes imperilled:

# Rugby: The Lions suffered their second straight defeat in this year’s United Rugby Championship, going down 22-20 to Zebre Parma in the second round in Italy. It looked like Morne Brandon had won it for the Joburg-based outfit in the 74th minute. However, a try in the final moments from Matteo Nocera, converted by Martin Roger Farias, saw the Italian side claim a second successive win in the competition. The unbeaten Bulls top the URC table with ten points, followed by the Stormers in second and Munster in third.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-22-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 123-thousand-948-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-920-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….