News 14:00

BULLETIN 16 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The setting of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial date is delayed to December
# The former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane bids farewell to the EFF
# And cricket: Bangladesh suspends its head coach for assaulting a player

# The setting of a trial date for former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption case has been postponed to 5 December by the High Court in Pretoria. Her defense team requested access to parts of the docket. She is accused of soliciting millions of rands in bribes while Defence minister. State prosecutor Bheki Manyathi requested timelines to avoid further delays:

# Former Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has bid farewell to the EFF. She announced her departure on X, thanking the party for their support during her struggles after her removal and investigations into the CR17 and Phala Phala scandals. In her letter, she stated that after careful consideration and discussions with her family, it was time to step away, rest, and focus on her loved ones. Mkhwebane joined the EFF a year ago after her impeachment for incompetence and subsequently became a Member of Parliament for the party. 

# The Maritime Business Chamber says government is slow to take up the opportunity of about 27-billion barrels of prospective oil and gas resources on its south, west and east coasts. Chairperson Unathi Sonti says the offshore oil and gas resources have the potential to significantly boost the country’s economy. He says South Africa will benefit from the discovery of substantial offshore gas reserves off Mozambique:

# Public health advocates in tobacco, alcohol, and sugar control sectors are launching the Health Tax Alliance in Cape Town. The alliance aims to push for higher health taxes on harmful products including tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks, aligning with World Health Organisation recommendations. Advocates argue that these taxes can reduce disease, save lives, and generate revenue. The alliance seeks government action to ease the burden on South Africa’s strained healthcare system as non-communicable diseases cost billions of rand.

# Cricket: Bangladesh’s governing body has suspended head coach Chandika Hathurusingha for misconduct after he allegedly assaulted a player. The president of the Bangladeshi Cricket Board, Farugue Ahmed, made the announcement without giving details. Hathurusingha, a former Sri Lankan batter, returned as head coach last year after a successful earlier tenure. A former allrounder from Trinidad, Phil Simmons, was appointed interim coach, starting from this month’s two Tests against the Proteas, and until the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan in February.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-57-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-729-dollars-99-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-677-dollars-22-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….