News 13:00

BULLETIN 12 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Malusi Gigaba says Nathi Mthethwa believed in the renewal of the ANC
# Fikile Mbalula says the apartheid regime blocked black communities from developing to their full potential
# And, Russian flights smuggled helicopters from South Africa to Khalifa Haftar’s rebel territory in Benghazi

# ANC national executive committee member, Malusi Gigaba says the late ambassador Nathi Mthethwa believed in the renewal and political building of the ANC. Mthethwa, who served as South Africa’s Head of Mission in Paris, passed away in the French capital last week, at the age of 58. His funeral service is underway in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal. Gigaba told SABC News that they have lost an esteemed member of the generation:

# ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the apartheid regime blocked black communities from developing to their full potential. Mbalula was speaking during the reburial of the freedom fighters and artists, Todd Matshikiza, Esme Sheila Matshikiza and John Pogiso Maroo in Johannesburg yesterday. He says organisational renewal traverses every aspect of political and social life across sectors:

# The Housing Development Agency says it has achieved an unqualified, clean audit with no findings,  a first after several years. The agency spokesperson, Katlego Moselakgomo says the 2024/2025 financial year stands as a testament to disciplined planning and focused delivery. He says the agency successfully achieved 95-percent of its performance targets, underscoring its unwavering commitment to results-driven implementation:

# At least four Gazelle helicopters were smuggled out from Lanseria Airport aboard an aircraft of the Russian airline Abakan Air to the controversial warlord Khalifa Haftar’s rebel territory in Benghazi. According to the News24 publication Rapport this happened over a period of two months with flight plans falsely listing Jordan as the destination. The exports violated UN sanctions against delivering military equipment to Haftar, who was a former ally of Muammar Gaddafi.  Haftar made headlines last year when he sent troops to a training camp at Witrivier in Mpumalanga for training as “security guards”.

# Golf: Xander Schauffele won his first title of the year after finishing one stroke clear of Max Greyserman at the PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Classic in Japan. The American ended a drought stretching back to his win at the British Open last year . Schauffele, finished on 19-under par after a seven-under final round of 64 containing eight birdies and one bogey at Yokohama Country Club. He was part of the losing US Ryder Cup team two weeks ago and won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021.

# And finally, the tennis world is in China this month where fans often give popular players nicknames, usually puns based on a Chinese transliteration of their names. World number one Carlos Alcaraz is called “Duck” after the duck-billed platypus, because fans say he resembles the Australian mammal. The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is known as Chicken, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is known as either “China’s Daughter”, “Tiger Girl” or “Fried Rice Queen”. And although he is no longer an active player Roger Federer is still beloved in China and known as “Cow”.

Stay tuned for more news………….