News 11:00

BULLETIN 25 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IFP welcomes the peaceful conduct of election campaigns
# The DA puts the SABC on notice over inequity and unfairness
# And a memorial will be erected to honour the SAPS K9 dog Sky

# Inkatha Freedom Party president Velenkosini Hlabisa has welcomed what he described as the overall peaceful conduct of political parties during local government election campaigns across the country. Hlabisa was campaigning in Esikhawini, near Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. He says peaceful campaigning is important as political parties engage voters and encourage South Africans to go in large numbers to vote on 4 November:

# The DA has given the South African Broadcasting Corporation 43 hours to confirm in writing its commitments to fair and equitable terrestrial television coverage of major political parties’ closing election campaign rallies. The party’s demand follows from what it called contradictory messages from senior SABC executives this week about whether election rallies will be broadcast live. According to the party, one executive indicated that no political party would receive live coverage of its final rally on any terrestrial television channel. The DA says another executive reportedly said no decision had yet been reached.

# Police are urging community members to exercise caution when withdrawing, transporting and distributing their savings as the festive season approaches. Police spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi says increased cash withdrawals and the movement of large sums of money during this period create opportunities for criminals to target unsuspecting members of the public. She warns that stokvel members are particularly vulnerable to robberies and theft when cash withdrawals and payout arrangements become predictable. Mnisi is urging communities to remain vigilant:

# Sports news:

# Motorsport: Kimi Antonelli has secured a surprise pole position for the F1 United States Grand Prix in Texas, putting himself in prime position to clinch the world championship this weekend. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver edged out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.179-seconds. Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, claimed an impressive third place. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the top five. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari made it to sixth, followed by the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in 7th and 8th position, respectively.

# Rugby: The Springbok Women have gone down 40-27 to Ireland in the first of two W15 Global Series Tests at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town yesterday. South Africa trailed 21-17 at half-time after an entertaining first half in which both teams scored three tries. Aseza Hele, Vainah Ubisi, Maria Tshiremba, Lerato Makua and Alichia Arries crossed for the hosts. Ireland scored six tries to secure victory. The teams meet again at Athlone Stadium next Saturday.

# And finally: The memory of Sky, a five-year-old Belgian Malinois who served as an arson detection dog with the South African Police Service, will live on at a memorial in Pretoria. The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, says a granite memorial dedicated to Sky has been completed and will be placed at the Animals in War Memorial at the Voortrekker Monument. Sky was euthanised in September after being found severely injured in her kennel. Cameron says she will now be remembered alongside other animals that served South Africa.

Stay tuned for more news………….