News 16:00

BULLETIN 22 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Freedom Park rejects Afrikaans organisations’ application for a protest march
# Cosatu demands Kabelo Gwamanda’s recusal from council duties over insurance fraud allegations
# And rugby: Four World Cup winners return as the Boks name their squad for the November tour

# Freedom Park in Pretoria has denied a request from Afrikaans organisations for a peaceful protest march against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, planned for 5 November. In response, the Solidarity Movement urged Sport, Arts, and Culture minister Gayton McKenzie to intervene. The protest opposes sections of the new education law, which limits school governing bodies’ control over admissions and language policies. AfriForum has initiated legal action and called for direct talks with the Presidency to ensure the march goes ahead.

# Union federation Cosatu in Gauteng has called for the recusal of former Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda from his role as mayoral committee member for Community Development amid fraud charges. He was recently arrested and released on bail following allegations of operating an illegal funeral insurance scheme in 2012. Cosatu provincial chairperson, Amos Monyela, urged Gwamanda to step aside until the legal process is resolved, aligning with the actions of other public servants facing similar charges:  

# The DA is demanding from Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi to urgently publish Education MEC Matome Chiloane’s lifestyle audit. This comes amid allegations of a 27-million-rand fraud case linked to ANC member Pule Mabe. Chiloane is accused of accepting 185-thousand-rand from a fraudulent vehicle tender during his previous role in Ekurhuleni. The DA’s Sergio Isa dos Santos criticised Lesufi for his silence and failure to act, raising concerns over potential negligence or attempts to conceal corruption:

# European Union poll observers have noted irregularities in the results of Mozambique’s general election, which has been contested by the opposition. Yesterday riot police in the capital of Maputo fired tear gas to disperse a crowd protesting against alleged fraud in the 9 October presidential and parliamentary election. Earlier two associates of opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane were shot dead. The EU observation mission says it noted irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level.

# Rugby: Four World Cup winners, Damian Willemse, André Esterhuizen, RG Snyman and Franco Mostert, will make a welcome return to the Springbok squad for the November tour. Coach Rassie Erasmus named a 34-man squad to face Scotland in Edinburgh on 10 November, England in London on 16 November and Wales in Cardiff a week later. Captain Siya Kolisi and the squad depart for a training camp in Jersey on Sunday. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Salmaan Moerat, Steven Kitshoff and Lood de Jager were not considered due to injuries.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-55-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-200-dollars-29-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-735-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….