News 16:00

BULLETIN 2 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# France is to deliver a preliminary report on Nathi Mthethwa’s cause of death by Sunday
# Two people are killed in an attack outside a synagogue in Manchester
# And rugby: Thomas du Toit enjoys his responsibilities within the Springbok team

# International Relations and Cooperation deputy minister Alvin Botes says French police are finalising investigations into the death of ambassador Nathi Mthethwa. Speaking outside Mthethwa’s home in Kwambonambi, KwaZulu-Natal, Botes said the post-mortem report will show the cause of death, with a preliminary report expected by Sunday. He confirmed repatriation efforts will be expedited within ten-days and warned against speculation, stressing the ANC does not subscribe to any narrative:

The ANC meanwhile says it will isolate and discipline any members involved in corruption. Briefing the media on the outcomes of the national working committee meeting, secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said corruption undermines service delivery, robs the poor, and betrays the values of the party. He adds those who engage in wrongdoing stand alone, will face consequences, and cannot hide behind the ANC, which is committed to exposing and defeating corruption:

# Two people were killed and three wounded in a car ramming and stabbing incident outside a synagogue in Manchester in the northwest of England. Police say a man believed to be the attacker was shot by officers and is also believed to have died, but this could not be verified yet due to items on his person. A bomb disposal unit was at the scene. Three people wounded in the attack are in a serious condition.

# Rugby: Springbok prop Thomas du Toit is relishing his responsibilities within the national team, with the Boks facing Argentina in London on Saturday. The 30-year-old has started the Boks’ last four Tests – against Australia in Cape Town, New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington, and Argentina in Durban last week. He has been replaced in the second half of the last three Tests by one of the world’s best scrummagers, Wilco Louw. Du Toit says he is very comfortable in the team and with what is required of him:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-19-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-38-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-882-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-92-cent a barrel.

# And finally: Hundreds of unique vernacular place names from the Cederberg have been saved from obscurity, thanks to veteran cartographer Peter Slingsby. In his newly launched book, Cederberg – The Book, Slingsby documents nearly 500 names once preserved only through oral tradition, including Slangbosfontein, Vogelgesang, and Jakkalskop. He says place names are vital to cultural heritage and human history. He says that the book safeguards a sense of place for future generations.

Stay tuned for more news………….