News 12:00

BULLETIN 16th October 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The state bids to recoup over 28-million-rand in legal fees from Zuma
# TLU SA says the landmark stone fruit trade protocol with China will create valuable opportunities
# And BOSA calls for accountability as thousands of learners disappear from the school system

# The High Court in Pretoria is today hearing an application by the Presidency and the state attorney to recoup over 28-million-rand in legal fees from former president Jacob Zuma in his personal capacity. In 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed that Zuma was not entitled to continue receiving state funding to cover his corruption trial. Last year, the state launched litigation to recover the money. Zuma says he will not be able to pay the money, even if his presidential pension were forfeited to the state.

# The agricultural organisation TLU SA has welcomed the historic stone fruit trade protocol between South Africa and China. The agreement opens the Chinese market to five types of South African stone fruit for the first time, namely apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes. The opening of the Chinese market could unlock approximately 400-million-rand for the country over the next five years. TLU SA’s Bennie Van Zyl says the agreement will create valuable opportunities for growth, investment, and job creation:

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta is encouraged by the systems that are in place to safeguard the integrity of the matric exam. Quality insurance body Umalusi has announced that more than one-million candidates across the three assessment bodies are registered to write the National Senior Certificate, which begins next week. The three assessment bodies are the Basic Education Department, the Independent Examinations Board and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute. Makaneta says there must be no paper leaks:

Build One South Africa is meanwhile calling on the minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, to account for the school dropout crisis in the country. Approximately 450-thousand learners have disappeared from the system before even reaching Grade 12. BOSA’s spokesperson, Roger Solomons, says to address this crisis, urgent interventions must be implemented. He says these include reducing class sizes and improving teacher support, ending budget cuts to education and providing psychosocial and nutritional support to learners at risk.

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has named a squad of 25 players to face the Democratic Republic of Congo in a crucial 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next week Wednesday. The return leg will be played in Johannesburg on October 28. Thembi Kgatlana, who last played for the national team in April, returns to the squad. Ellis has included seven overseas-based players. WAFCON will be held in Morocco for the second time in the space of two years.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-33-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-29-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-658-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-234-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….