News 18:00

BULLETIN 17th October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mchunu says Ramaphosa agreed with the disbandment of the political killings task team
# The Transport ministry says overloading and an unroadworthy bus were behind the tragedy in Limpopo
# And Trump refiles his 260-billion-rand lawsuit against New York Times

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that president Cyril Ramaphos agreed with the decision to disband the political killings task team. This statement contradicts claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who previously raised concerns over political interference in the unit’s closure. Mchunu says he acted with full knowledge of the president’s approval when the task team was disbanded:

# The Transport ministry has released preliminary findings into the Limpopo bus crash that killed 43 people on the N1 north over the weekend. The bus en route to Zimbabwe was overloaded with 91 passengers in a 62-seat vehicle, and only half of its brakes were working, while the trailer had no functioning brakes. The driver was also speeding. Minister Barbara Creecy has ordered more checks on the bus company and other buses, and possible criminal charges:

# The Western Cape High Court sentenced an 18-year-old boy to 25-years in prison for the murder of Overberg High School Grade 10 learner Deveney Nel in Caledon. The teen, whose identity is protected under the Children’s Act, was also found guilty of defeating the ends of justice as part of a plea agreement. Deveney’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in a school storeroom on 14 August last year after she was reported missing. The case has reignited debate on South Africa’s Child Justice Act.

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has refiled a 260-billion-rand defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. He has intensified his long-established hostility toward the media since his return to the White House and the suit is one of numerous attacks against news organisations he accuses of bias against him. The complaint was thrown out in September because District Judge Steven Merryday took exception to its florid writing, repetitive and laudatory praise of Trump and its excessive 85-page length. The new suit filed in Florida runs at 40 pages.

# Rugby: Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant will make his first appearance of the season for the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship encounter with Zebre Parma in Italy tomorrow. There are four changes to the starting line-up. With Gelant at fullback, Damian Willemse shifts to inside centre to join captain Ruhan Nel in the midfield. In the forward pack Adré Smith joins Ruben van Heerden in the second row, while up front young tighthead Zachary Porthen is set to make his first start for the Stormers.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-37-cents and the euro at 20-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-183-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-232-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-94-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….