News 11:00

BULLETIN 7 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana says the PIC is implementing the Mpati Commission’s recommendations
# A second suspect is arrested in connection with the murder of EFF member Monica Dube
# And American death row inmate Christa Pike is conscious and speaking following her botched execution

# Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana says the Public Investment Corporation is implementing the recommendations of the Mpati Commission. It made several recommendations aimed at strengthening governance, improving transparency, tightening investment oversight, and ensuring the PIC acts solely in the best interests of its clients and beneficiaries. It also recommended depoliticising board appointments. Godongwana says changes in the appointment of the board will require changes in legislation:

# The Road Freight Association says the latest fuel increases will put further pressure on transport costs and supply chains, with consequences for the prices of goods. Fuel accounts for between 35- and 55-percent of operating costs, depending on the operation, vehicle type and routes. Petrol prices have gone up by between three-rand-12- and three-rand-33-cents per litre and diesel prices by between two-rand-84- and three-rand-24-cents. CEO Gavin Kelly says transport companies will inevitably raise the cost of transport:

# The Gauteng political killings task team has arrested a second suspect in connection with the murder of EFF member Monica Dube. She was shot dead in front of her family at her home in Wallmannsthal, Tshwane, in June. This latest breakthrough follows the arrest of the first suspect, Sipho Mahlangu, in July. He remains in custody facing charges of murder and robbery. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the second suspect will appear in the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court later today.

Moving abroad:

# Nearly a week after the botched execution in Tennessee, convicted murderer Christa Pike is conscious and speaking. The 50-year-old death row inmate survived two lethal doses during her planned execution last week. She was taken to hospital, where she was unconscious and placed on a ventilator. Pike, who was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, was to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years. Her lawyers called her progress medically unprecedented, adding her prognosis remains unclear.

# Cricket: Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, has confirmed all-rounder Cameron Green will not play the first Test against South Africa, starting in Durban on Friday. He sustained an abdominal strain during the third one-day match against the Proteas in Potchefstroom last week. This is likely to leave Australia with a choice between Cooper Connolly and Nic Maddinson at number five in the batting order. McDonald says Green’s recovery is progressing well:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-60-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-193-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-131-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….