News 15:00

BULLETIN 13 October 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF says the removal of Madonsela’s nomination was irrational
# Rugby: Giliomee could make his Bulls debut against Stade Francais on Saturday
# And the Jacob Zuma Foundation dismisses reports he had been discharged from hospital

# The EFF has told the High Court in Cape Town Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment committee acted unlawfully by withdrawing its nomination of Griffiths Madonsela as chief evidence leader for the Phala Phala inquiry. The party’s legal representative, Mfesane Ka-Siboto, argues the committee already knew Madonsela had worked with the ANC study group. He argues president Cyril Ramaphosa’s complaint influenced the committee’s decision:

# South Africans face higher travel costs this festive season, with Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop warning fuel prices will remain elevated into 2027. Speaking to CapeTalk, Bishop said petrol prices had risen from 20- to 30-rand a litre this year, while diesel climbed from 17- to 31-rand and could rise up to 34-rand next month. She says higher fuel costs are squeezing consumers, pressuring businesses, threatening tourism and economic growth, and could push inflation to five-percent, with further interest rate hikes possible.

# The Western Cape government is offering free vehicle safety checks for learners and public transport vehicles from today until Thursday as part of Mobility Month. Checks run from 8am to 3pm at Gene Louw Traffic College and participating testing centres. Mobility chief director Maxine Bezuidenhout says the assessments by qualified examiners will check tyres, brakes, lights and suspension and provide a printed defect report. She says preventative maintenance improves safety for learners:

# Rugby: The Bulls’ latest signing, Junior Springbok star Luan Giliomee, is expected to make his debut for the team in Saturday’s Champions Cup season opener against Stade Francais at Loftus. The 20-year-old moved to Pretoria last week after the end of his contract with the Sharks. The versatile back player is listed as flyhalf for the series, alongside Bok pivot Handré Pollard and Curwin Bosch, but he can also give Bok veteran Willie le Roux a run for his money for the number 15 jersey.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-48-cents and the euro at 18-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-111-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-183-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Jacob Zuma Foundation has denied reports the former president and MK Party leader has been discharged from hospital. The foundation says Zuma remains at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, which his party describes as a routine check-up, adding he was in good spirits. President Cyril Ramaphosa has also confirmed he has been briefed on Zuma’s health. Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi accused the media of stirring up rumours.

Stay tuned for more news………….