News 11:00

BULLETIN 19 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa condemns the spate of politically-related killings in the country
# Zelensky admits Ukraine will not prevail in the war if the US officially takes Russia’s side
# And rugby: Solontsi will take over the Bok Women captaincy duties against Ireland

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern about the spate of politically-related killings ahead of next month’s local government elections. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, 43 people were killed in suspected political assassinations in South Africa between January and September. Just last week, two ANC volunteers were shot and killed while engaging in door-to-door campaigning in Umgababa in KwaZulu-Natal. Ramaphosa says South Africa cannot be a country that has people killed for having opposing views:

# South Africa’s media sector is commemorating Black Wednesday, marking the apartheid government’s crackdown on media freedom on the 19th of October 1977. Authorities banned newspapers, including The World and Weekend World, and outlawed 19 Black Consciousness organisations. An outspoken critic of apartheid, journalist Percy Qoboza, was among those detained. The day serves as a reminder of the dangers of censorship and the vital role of a free media in holding those in power accountable, exposing injustice and keeping the public informed.

 # The DA wants Eskom’s leadership to account for additional work allocated through existing contracts rather than competitive tenders. An investigation by Sunday Times found the power utility accounted for nearly 60-percent of the 69.6-billion-rand in contract expansions across national departments and state entities between October 2023 and March this year. The DA’s Kevin Mileham says Eskom has received qualified audit opinions, yet has now been identified as responsible for 41.4-billion-rand in contract expansions over two and a half years:

Moving abroad:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says if the US takes an official stance and sides with Russian president Vladimir Putin, it would be a historic mistake. Relations between Washington and Kyiv frayed after America struck a controversial deal to import Russian diesel last week. US president Donald Trump has accused Zelensky of not wanting to end the war. Zelensky admitted to NBC News without US support, it would be difficult to win the war:

# Rugby: Sizophila Solontsi will take over the Springbok Women captaincy duties for the final two Tests in the W-15 Global Series against Ireland in Cape Town on Thursday and the 31st of this month. Regular captain Babalwa Latsha has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Nombuyekezo Mdliki is also out with a rib injury. Unam Tose has been named vice-captain for the two Tests, the first internationals between the two countries on South African soil.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 18-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-798-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-185-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….