News 14:00

BULLETIN 29 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AZAPO calls for a ban on private funding for political parties
# Golf: Louis Oosthuizen will defend his title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship
# And gangs’ power struggles fuel the surge in violence in Cape Town

 # The Azanian People’s Organisation is calling for a unicameral Parliament and a ban on private donations to political parties. AZAPO’s spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena, says the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel was established to review the electoral laws in line with the Constitutional Court ruling that called for the introduction of independent candidates. He says the public has to submit comment before the cut-off date on Thursday:

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube is urging government to prioritise education funding as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana prepares for the mid-term budget policy statement. Gwarube warns that proposed budget cuts, which could see two-thousand-400 teaching jobs lost in the Western Cape in 2025, threaten the quality of education. She also called on MECs to curb wasteful expenditure and meet their education obligations:

# A dispute has erupted between gas producer Renergen and Patrice Motsepe’s SOLA Group over land rights in the Free State. Renergen claims it wasn’t consulted before construction of SOLA’s 150MegaWatts solar project began, alleging violations of petroleum production rights. SOLA counters that all approvals were obtained, accusing Renergen of misrepresenting its helium claims. Legal battles are now underway, as both sides defend their interests.

# Golf: Former Major champion Louis Oosthuizen will seek to become only the third player in the history of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to successfully defend his title when he returns to Leopard Creek from 12 to 15 December. Oosthuizen confirmed his place in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament. Thriston Lawrence, currently South Africa’s highest ranked golfer in 50th place, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, winner of the 2020 Alfred Dunhill Championship, as well as Erik van Rooyen and Dean Burmester will also be in the field at Leopard Creek.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-132-dollars-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-755-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cape Town is facing a surge in gang-related violence as shifting gang allegiances intensify power struggles in the underworld. Western Cape police chief Thembisile Patekile attributes the clashes to the recent arrests of gang leaders, which sparked conflict among rival factions, particularly between the 28s and the Fancy Boys. High-profile killings and mass shootings in Bishop Lavis and Atlantis have also heightened community fears. Patekile highlights increased extortion violence in Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Gugulethu, urging residents to safely report extortion, as gangs fight for control over lucrative protection fees.

Stay tuned for more news………….