News 12:00

BULLETIN 23 October 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A High Court date will be decided in January for the case into the Jagersfontein mine dam collapse
# France’s ex-president Sarkozy will be protected by police in prison
# And cricket: South Africa beats Pakistan to draw the Test series

# The Jagersfontein Magistrate’s Court has set 14 January next year to decide the date for the High Court hearing into the 2022 Jagersfontein mine dam collapse at the fine tailings storage facility in the Free State. The civil lawsuit, filed by 26 victims and the Kopanong Local Municipality, involves five accused facing charges of murder, property damage, and health and safety violations. The collapse destroyed homes, covered farmland in sludge, killed two people, and left a third missing. Victims say the scheduled hearing is a sign of progress.

# Action Society has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to the Department of Correctional Services following the unlawful release of convicted murderer Xolani du Preez. He was serving an 11-year sentence for the 2022 murder of 28-year-old makeup artist Suritha Alting in Cape Town. Action Society’s Juanita du Preez says their PAIA request to the department seeks all documentation, correspondence, and internal reports relating to Du Preez’s release, transfer, and re-arrest:

# The DA in the Western Cape has strongly condemned the recent assault of a Grade 10 boy at Milnerton High School in Cape Town. Eight learners believed to be involved in the assault which was captured on video, have been suspended and will now face disciplinary hearings. The DA’s Elmarie Linde says bullied learners are encouraged to raise the alarm with their parents, teachers, and principals:

Moving abroad:

# Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will have two police members stationed in nearby cells while he is in prison to ensure he comes to no harm. He began a five-year sentence on Tuesday after being convicted of conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya. Interior minister Laurent Nunez told Europe 1 radio the former president is entitled to protection because of his status. He adds there is obviously a threat against Sarkozy, and this protection will be maintained while he is in detention.

# Cricket: South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the second and final Test in Rawalpindi to draw the series 1-all. Offspinner Simon Harmer took six wickets as the Proteas dismissed Pakistan for 138 in their second innings, giving the visitors a 68-run target to win. South Africa chased down the target with ease, thanks to captain Aiden Markram’s 42 and an unbeaten 25 from Ryan Rickelton. Pakistan won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs. The nations will now face each other in three T20s.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-36-cents and the euro at 20-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-784-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-114-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….