News 18:00

BULLETIN 2 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says the killing of the main suspect in Cloete and Thomas Murrays’ murder shows the rise of a mafia state
# The City of Cape Town deploys 40 new metro police officials to boost safety at the N2 and the airport precinct
# And rugby: The Sharks make three backline changes for the URC clash with the Dragons

# The DA says the killing of the main suspect in the murder of liquidator Cloete Murray and his son, Thomas, shows South Africa is at risk of becoming a mafia state. Burnett Hermanus was shot dead in the parking lot of Netcare Milpark Hospital in Gauteng last night. The DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach blames a broken criminal justice system, a captured police service, and a weak prosecuting authority:

# The City of Cape Town has deployed 40 new metro police officials to improve safety along the N2 highway, airport, and Borcherd’s Quarry precincts. Patrols will operate all day and night to assist motorists and prevent crime. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the move is part of the city’s largest policing investment in over a decade, with officials equipped with dashcams and licence plate recognition technology. Hill-Lewis urges drivers to travel safely, keep vehicles roadworthy, and report anything suspicious along these key routes.

# Correctional Services minister Pieter Groenewald warns against granting parole just to ease prison overcrowding. In a parliamentary question, Groenewald revealed that over 18-thousand parolees reoffended in the past three years, including 493 accused of murder and 624 of rape. Theft and housebreaking were the most common offences. From 2022 to this year, more than 46-thousand inmates were released on parole, but over 28-thousand parole violations were recorded over five-years, mostly due to reoffending. Groenewald emphasised urgent parole reform to protect public safety.

# Eastern Cape acting premier, Mlungisi Mvoko, says the future of the automotive sector is in new energy vehicles, and as things stand, Chinese automakers are leading the way globally. He delivered the keynote address at the fourth instalment of the SA Auto Week, which is held in Gqeberha. Mvoko  emphasised the importance of the automotive sector, especially in the province, saying they are the major source of skills and investment, especially in East London, Gqeberha and Kariega:

# Rugby: The Sharks have made three backline changes for Friday evening’s United Rugby Championship clash with the Dragons in Wales. Sharks head coach John Plumtree has kept his forward pack intact from last week. Jean Smith takes over from Jaden Hendrikse who filled in at flyhalf last week, but reverts to scrumhalf. Lukhanyo Am shifts from outside to inside centre, opening the way for Jurenzo Julius to come in as his midfield partner. Edwill van der Merwe moves to fullback, with PK Sobahle named on the wing.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-720-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-863-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….