News 09:00

BULLETIN 4 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa remains concerned about the conflict in the Middle East
# Cosatu believes the sentence handed down to the former Steinhoff CFO should have been harsher
# And Judges Matter wants Parliament to investigate Mkhwebane’s racial slurs

# President Cyril Ramaphosa remains deeply concerned about the ongoing loss of lives, damage to infrastructure, and the instability that now defines the Middle East. This is as Israel has continued its military action in Gaza and Lebanon. Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the ramifications of this conflict escalation are going to be felt beyond the region, therefore, it is critically important that the international community applies pressure on all parties to commence negotiations immediately. He adds that Ramaphosa is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

# Cosatu has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of former Steinhoff chief financial officer Andries La Grange. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, five of which were suspended, after pleading guilty to one charge of fraud amounting to more than 300-million-rand. He is the second person to be convicted in the Steinhoff scandal after the arrest of Gerhardus Burger. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says La Grange’s sentence should have been harsher for one of the greatest financial crimes in South African history:

# Judges Matter is calling on Parliament’s Ethics committee to investigate former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s racially motivated attack on a Supreme Court of Appeal judge. In a social media post, Mkhwebane blamed her ongoing struggle against her impeachment on figures predominantly of Indian descent. She singled out judge Visvanathan Ponnan and Nazreen Bawa, who led evidence in her impeachment inquiry. Judges Matter says Mkhwebane is bound by section 165 of the Constitution to protect the dignity of the courts, but her comments arguably violate this provision.

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has commended the police for the successful apprehension of two suspects linked to the murder of a 64-year-old woman in Kraaifontein, Cape Town. Nophumelelo Makeleni was shot in the head while selling meat last month. The ministry’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, says the two suspects robbed and shot Makeleni before fleeing the scene on foot:

# Soccer: Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header rescued a point for Manchester United against Porto, as they recovered from a collapse to draw three-all in the Europa League. United threw away an early two-goal lead after strikes from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund as Porto struck twice in the space of seven minutes to go level at the break. Samu Omorodion put the home side ahead before Maguire’s late goal. United’s under-fire manager, Erik ten Hag, says they need to control games better:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-167-dollars-3-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-662-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….