News 14:00

BULLETIN 19 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Suliman Carrim’s bail hearing is postponed
# Masemola awaits the Madlanga Commission’s report to strengthen police accountability
# And tennis: The Shanghai Masters winner and runner-up reach career-high world rankings

# North West businessman Suliman Carrim’s bail application has been postponed to next Wednesday in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court this morning. He was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng on Thursday shortly before boarding a flight to Dubai. Carrim faces charges including failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission and fraud linked to Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in North West. Investigators have verified his return flight ticket and residential address. Carrim remains incarcerated at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, national commissioner Fannie Masemola says police are looking forward to the final report of the Madlanga Commission and its recommendations on strengthening accountability and addressing weaknesses within SAPS. He addressed the media on his first day back at work after his suspension had been lifted. Masemola says recommendations are expected to help advance necessary reforms within the organisation. He adds accountability and institutional reform are important in strengthening public confidence in police:

# Union federation COSATU says minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana’s medium-term budget comes at a time when workers are under siege, with unemployment rising to a dangerously high 43.8-percent, and the economy continues to limp along at 1.2-percent growth. He will deliver the statement in Parliament on Wednesday. COSATU’s Matthew Parks says key interventions must include a bold stimulus package for jobs and growth, and relief through releasing ten-billion-rand from the Central Energy Fund’s Equalisation Fund:

# KwaZulu-Natal authorities are searching for the driver and the owner of a truck that crashed into seven homes in Umlazi last night. The vehicle rolled down Prince Mcwayizeni Road in V Section without the driver behind the wheel, leaving a trail of destruction. Provincial Transport Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya says three people who were struck have been hospitalised:

# Tennis: Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has risen to a career-high of 13th in the latest ATP world rankings after winning the Shanghai Masters title in China. He defeated compatriot Rafael Jodar for the biggest title of his career. Jodar, who is enjoying a standout debut ATP season, is up to a career-high of eleventh and remains on track to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. Italian Jannik Sinner remains atop the rankings, while Serbian Novak Djokovic has dropped four spots to 12th place.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 18-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-520-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-165-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 110-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….