News 09:00

BULLETIN 10 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu says Mkhwebane tried to defraud the government
# The Revenue Service is tightening the noose on crypto assets
# And the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature will receive over 170-million-rand

# Cosatu has welcomed the dismissal of former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s bid to force her ex-employer to pay her a ten-million gratuity. The Gauteng High Court said that it would be absurd for Mkhwebane to expect an end-of-service gratuity payment after having left the office in disgrace. She was removed by Parliament less than a month shy of the end of her seven-year, non-renewable term. Cosatu’s, Zanele Sabela, says Mkhwebane was attempting to defraud the state of funds she was not entitled to:

# The South African Revenue Service has expressed concern about taxpayers who are not declaring crypto assets and trades on their tax returns. This as there has been phenomenal growth in the use of various digital currencies by many South Africans. More than 5.8 million South Africans hold a crypto asset, with Southern Africa boasting the largest uptake of Bitcoin in the world. SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter says in addressing crypto compliance, they are increasing the capability of its audit teams to support enforcement initiatives.

# Eastern Cape MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, has applauded the police for arresting a suspect in connection with the massacre of 18 people in Lusikisiki. Forty-five-year-old Siphosoxolo Myekethe made his first court appearance yesterday. He is facing 18 charges of murder and one count of possession of an unlicensed firearm. The department’s spokesperson, Makhaya Komisa, says the prosecution must oppose bail for Myekethe, who has two previous convictions:

# Tennis: Record four-time champion Novak Djokovic is through to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters for a tenth time. The Serb defeated Russia’s Roman Safiullin, 6-3, 6-2, to continue his quest for a 100th tour-level title. Djokovic will face 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik, who beat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Belgian David Goffin has set up a quarterfinal clash with American Taylor Fritz after knocking out second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, 6-4, 7-5.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-62-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-852-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-612-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 will be announced today, marking the 116th award since 1901. A total of 120 laureates have received the honour, with only 17 women among them. The winner will receive over 170-million-rand. Meanwhile, Nobel Committee member Heiner Linke praised chemistry laureates David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper for their innovative work on proteins:

Stay tuned for more news………….