News 13:00

BULLETIN 20 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Witness A reveals new details in the murder of engineer Armand Swart
# StandUpSA and Enough Is Enough are calling for Ramaphosa’s resignation
# And rugby: Former Junior Bok captain Zachary Porthen is rewarded with a Bok call-up for the November tour

# Witness A has revealed new details about the murder of engineer Armand Swart during testimony at the Madlanga inquiry in Pretoria. Testifying from a remote location, the organised crime investigator confirmed that Swart was shot 23 times outside his workplace in Vereeniging, Gauteng, in April last year, after being mistaken for another employee. Witness A linked the case to three other murders and confirmed several arrests, including suspects caught in Bramley and Kliprivier in Gauteng:

# Civic movement StandUpSA, in partnership with Enough Is Enough, is leading a “Ramaphosa Must Go” march in Pretoria today. Protesters are heading to the Union Buildings to deliver a memorandum demanding the president’s resignation. Organisers accuse Ramaphosa of failing to tackle corruption, unemployment, and service delivery. StandUpSA says the peaceful protest reflects love for South Africa and frustration with a disconnected Presidency.

# The Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa says the approval of the updated Integrated Resource Plan is a bold and pragmatic step forward in the country’s long-term energy strategy. The IRP outlines an estimated 2.2-trillion-rand investment in new generation capacity, making use of more solar, wind and gas to ensure there is enough reliable power by 2030. The association says it commends the inclusion and recognition of nuclear energy as a strategic pillar in the country’s clean Just Energy Transition.

# Rugby: Former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen earned his first Springbok call-up in Rassie Erasmus’ 36-man squad for the November tour. Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Gerhard Steenekamp will make their first appearances this season, while Jean Kleyn, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe are all back from injury. Erasmus also placed 10 players on standby, including Evan Roos, Bongi Mbonambi and Sebastian de Klerk. Willie le Roux did not make the squad. The Springboks will play Japan at Wembley in London on the first of November.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-30-cents and the euro at 20-rand-18-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-880-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-252-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The 11th African Women Writers’ Symposium at the Soweto Theatre has emphasised more reading and creative writing, especially for women. Funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and produced by Afro Arts SA, the event celebrated women’s voices in literature. Highlights included author Alexandra Fuller’s “No Voice No Choice” lecture, poetry and sessions tackling patriarchy, racism, and inequality. Spokesperson Roshnie Moonsammy emphasised to Newzroom Afrika that education in copywriting and publishing must be amplified:

Stay tuned for more news………….