News 16:00

BULLETIN 29 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner is in line for the top Hawks job
# The Western Cape police are ready to secure the elections
# And Olympics: It’s all systems go for the Dakar Youth Games

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia has asked cabinet to approve the appointment of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as national head of the Hawks. Cachalia has submitted a memorandum seeking approval, which is expected to be considered at the earliest opportunity. Police Ministry spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi says the appointment is important to ensure strong leadership for the unit, which investigates organised crime, corruption and other serious offences:

# The acting coordinator for the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee, Ntandazo Sifolo, has agreed certain declassified documents may be used during open hearings of the Madlanga Commission. This follows a ruling by chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who rejected a request for his testimony to be held entirely behind closed doors. Evidence leaders consulted Sifolo on which documents could be publicly referenced. The agreement allows questions based on approved documents during public proceedings, while protecting sensitive information.

# Western Cape police commissioner Sizakhele Dyantyi says they are prepared to maintain safety and respond to any disruptions during Wednesday’s local government elections. He says the election has a dedicated operational plan, with separate deployments to address potential threats. Dyantyi says police will not withdraw personnel from existing operations to manage election-related security. He says they are identifying needed resources without disrupting the election security arrangements already in place:

Moving abroad:

# Benjamin Netanyahu looked set to remain Israel’s caretaker prime minister after unexpectedly strong backing among Jewish voters left his opponents little apparent prospect of unseating him. ​This is despite his right-wing bloc losing its parliamentary majority. With nearly 86-percent of votes tallied, Israel’s three main broadcasters projected Netanyahu’s bloc of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties would win 53 ‌seats in the 120-seat Knesset, well ahead of the 48 for Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc. Parties representing Arab Israelis were projected to win an unprecedented 19 seats.

# Olympics: The International Olympic Committee says it’s all systems go for the historic Dakar Youth Games in Senegal. Two-thousand-655 of the world’s best young athletes aged 14 to 17 are expected to take part in the first Olympic event to be held in Africa, from Saturday to 13 November. The event will feature 25 competition sports, with 153 medal events. IOC president Kirsty Coventry expects the Games to be a success:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-65-cents and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-907-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-25-dollars-51-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 115-dollars-40-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….