News 17:00

BULLETIN 16th October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mchunu defends the directive to disband the political killings task team
# The DA in Gauteng lays charges against a former health official over the Tembisa hospital corruption
# And soccer: SAFA offers Banyana coach Desiree Ellis a new four-year contract

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has defended his directive to disband the political killings task team before Parliament’s ad hoc committee. He told members of Parliament that police task teams have a set lifespan, and receiving additional funding does not extend that. Mchunu says disbanding the task team ensured all South Africans benefit from police resources, allowing other units to carry out their work without being hindered by the team’s continued presence:

# The DA in Gauteng has laid criminal charges against former Gauteng Health chief financial official Lerato Madyo over her alleged role in the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal. The charges include failing to report corruption, conspiracy, fraud, and multiple violations of the Public Finance Management Act. Madyo allegedly ignored whistleblower Babita Deokaran’s warnings, allowing irregular payments exceeding 104-million-rand. The DA’s Jack Bloom calls for an urgent police investigation, vowing to hold all implicated parties accountable, including those behind Deokaran’s murder.

# Staying in Gauteng: Premier Panyaza Lesufi has released the signed performance agreements of all members of the executive council, advancing transparency and service delivery. The agreements outline each MEC’s key responsibilities, outputs, targets, and timelines. These translate provincial priorities such as inclusive growth, crime reduction, water security, and electricity stability into actionable plans. Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga says Lesufi will hold routine progress sessions and a midterm review to ensure effective implementation:

Moving abroad:

# Thousands of Kenyan supporters flocked to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to receive the body of former prime minister Raila Odinga. The 80-year-old died yesterday in India after suffering cardiac arrest while on a walk. Odinga, affectionately called “Baba,” was given a water cannon salute upon arrival. Operations were temporarily halted as mourners accompanied the military vehicle carrying his body. Plans for a public viewing and a state funeral is underway, with Kenya observing tomorrow as a national holiday to honour the pro-democracy leader and pan-Africanist.

# Soccer: South African governing body SAFA is set to offer Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis a new four-year contract following a decision made at the recent national executive committee meeting in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. Ellis, who has led the national women’s team since 2018, could continue at the helm despite recent challenges, including failure to qualify for last year’s Olympics. SAFA’s move aims to maintain stability and build on Ellis’s achievements with the senior women’s side.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-135-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-251-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….