News 11:00

BULLETIN 16 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa lifts the suspension of police commissioner Fannie Masemola
# A man is arrested for failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission
# And soccer: Gianni Infantino apologises to FIFA’s council for his World Cup sell-off plan

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has lifted the precautionary suspension of national police commissioner Fannie Masemola. He was facing Public Finance Management Act-related charges in connection with a 360-million-rand tender awarded to alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matala. The charges were withdrawn last month after National Prosecuting Authority head Andy Mothibi ordered a review which found no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says Masemola will resume his duties on Monday:

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority has denied claims an arrest warrant has been issued against March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and her husband, Xolani. Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says the authority makes prosecutorial decisions independently, based on the Constitution, the law and the evidence, without instructions from political parties or public officials. He urges organisations to avoid making unfounded allegations that could undermine the criminal justice process:

# A 49-year-old man was arrested by the Madlanga Commission’s recommendations task team moments before he was set to board an international flight at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. Police say he was apprehended for failing to appear before the commission. The man has not yet been identified, but reports claim he was a North West businessman and former ANC regional treasurer. He is expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today.

Moving abroad:

# Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty to new torture charges brought against them by US authorities. They are accused of overseeing a violent system that committed torture against victims, including American citizens held in Venezuelan detention. Maduro calls the new charges false allegations. He and Flores already face drug trafficking and firearms charges in America, to which they have already pleaded not guilty. Due to the new charges, their trial will now begin on June 14 next year.

# Soccer: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has apologised for his World Cup sell-off plan, saying mistakes were made which led to many consequences. In August, he scrapped a controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private equity investors after fierce opposition from the sport’s governing bodies. During a three-hour FIFA council meeting in Zurich yesterday, Infantino said the proposal was not intended to replace support from existing resources:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 18-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-46-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-184-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….