News 13:00

BULLETIN 31 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Jacob Zuma’s ANC disciplinary appeal hearing is scheduled for tomorrow
# Media24 will close key print editions after approval from the Competition Commission
# And rugby: The lock Ben Carter is out of Wales’ squad for the November internationals

# The Jacob Zuma Foundation says former president Jacob Zuma’s appeal hearing with the ANC’s national disciplinary committee of appeals is scheduled for tomorrow. Zuma was expelled from the ANC for leading the MK Party. The appeal will be held virtually, despite Zuma wanting it to be in person. The foundation’s spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi, says Zuma’s representative, Tony Yengeni, plans to ask for a public hearing and address some preliminary issues first.

# Media24 will close key print editions after receiving Competition Commission approval and finalising the sale of On the Dot, Soccer Laduma, and other assets to Novus Holdings. This restructuring includes shutting print editions of Beeld, Rapport, City Press, and Daily Sun by 31 December, with some titles moving exclusively online. Interim CEO Raj Lalbahadur emphasises Media24’s commitment to sustainable digital journalism amid shifting consumer trends. The restructuring initially risked 400 job losses, though editorial staff cuts were later rescinded.

# The Department of Water and Sanitation has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing climate change and its impact on water resources and sanitation services across the country. According to the United Nations World Institute for Development Economics Research, by 2050, climate change is likely to have an impact on water availability in most of South Africa. The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, says they recognise the urgency of transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy:

# The GOOD Party urges government to protect humanitarian advocates for Palestine from recent smear campaigns. They condemned South African Jewish Board of Deputies chairperson, Lawrence Nowosenetz, for accusing Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman and his organisation of funding United States-designated terrorist groups. Good secretary general, Brett Herron, called on government to defend individuals with differing views on Israel and to support efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza: 

# Rugby: Lock Ben Carter was released from Wales’s squad for the November internationals after suffering a knee injury. Carter, capped 12 times, would have been in contention for a place in Wales’s matchday 23 for their opening Test against Fiji on 10 November in Cardiff. He has been replaced in the squad by Cardiff forward Teddy Williams, who made his Test debut against South Africa in a warm-up for the 2023 World Cup. Wales, without a Test win since defeating Georgia 13 months ago, also face Australia and South Africa.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-244-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-778-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….