News 17:00

BULLETIN 30 October 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The High Court overrules that Chief Albert Luthuli’s 1967 death was caused by a train accident
# Stats SA reports total liquidations rose by nearly 24-percent in September
# And rugby: Eleven South Africans feature in the Barbarians’ starting team for the All Blacks-15 clash

# The High Court in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, has overturned the 1967 inquest’s finding that former ANC president Albert Luthuli’s death was caused by a train accident. Judge Nompumelelo Hadebe found new evidence inconsistent with the original conclusion, noting signs of assault before his body was placed on the tracks. Forensic experts testified that Luthuli’s injuries showed defensive wounds and not train impact. While the court did not name assailants, the ruling exposed major flaws and possible apartheid-era cover-ups in the initial investigation.

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says progress has been made in the extradition of those accused of murdering musician AKA and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. Siyabonga Ndimande and Malusi Ndimande have withdrawn their appeal against extradition from Eswatini, bringing their return to South Africa closer. Ministry spokesperson Terrence Manase says Kubayi looks forward to the accused facing justice, allowing the victims’ families to find closure:

# The latest figures from Statistics South Africa show a rise in business failures. Total liquidations jumped nearly 24-percent in September compared with last year. Company liquidations increased by 16 cases, and close corporations by 12. Stats SA’s Onica Mushwana says the first nine months of the year recorded a 3.8-percent rise, highlighting growing financial strain on South African businesses:

# Rugby: Eleven South Africans will be in the Barbarians’ starting team for Saturday’s clash with an All Blacks-15 in London. Leicester Tigers star Hanro Liebenberg was named captain of the squad which also includes compatriots such as Bongi Mbonambi, Evan Roos, André-Hugo Venter, Werner Kok, Leolin Zas, Oli Kebble and Cobus Wiese. Eight Test players and a group of rising young stars have been included in the New Zealand squad. The match kicks of at 3.15 Saturday afternoon, South African time.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-499-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-972-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Kabeljous Nature Reserve in the Kouga region in the Eastern Cape has officially been declared protected by the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs, and Tourism. This comes after more than 25 years of advocacy. The reserve safeguards the rare Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld, which is a unique vegetation type found only in the Eastern Cape. It is also home to 16 threatened plant species and endangered birds like the Black Harrier. The department says the new status will provide protection against urban expansion and habitat loss.

Stay tuned for more news………….