News 18:00

BULLETIN 17 November 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A former member of the political killings task team says the disbandment letter hit them like lightning
# BOSA backs the national shutdown against GBV ahead of the G20 summit
# And, Panyaza Lesufi confirms no extra funds were used for G20 preparations in Gauteng

# A former member of the political killings task team, Ntate Khumalo, has told the Madlanga commission they were shocked when a letter calling for the immediate disbandment of the task team appeared on social media. Testifying at the commission in Pretoria, Khumalo said the sudden announcement on 31 December last year left him unsure how to address members of the team:

# Build One South Africa says gender-based violence has reached a level that demands urgent national action. The party supports a planned shutdown this weekend, led by Women for Change South Africa, to highlight the issue ahead of the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng. BOSA deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster says they will keep fighting for better protection for women and children:

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says provincial government departments used existing budgets for G20 preparations, focusing on infrastructure, water, electricity, and province-wide beautification. Lesufi added that weekly meetings with MECs and municipal leadership ensured tasks like fixing streetlights and traffic systems were completed. Lesufi highlighted that almost all hotels and airlines are fully booked, boosting tourism, and stressed that final touches continue until the event begins this weekend:

# Rugby: The Wallabies are in danger of going home from the Northern Hemisphere empty-handed for the first time since 1958. This follows consecutive losses to England, Italy and Ireland, while no-one gives them a chance of beating France this coming weekend. On the contrary, Argentina eyes a clean sweep against European competition for the first time after yesterday’s stunning comeback victory over Scotland at Murrayfield. The Pumas were trailing 21-0 after almost 60 minutes, but rallied with five unanswered tries within 23 minutes to win 33-24.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-9-cents and the euro at 19-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-385-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-77-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-1-cents a barrel.

# And finally, a court in Singapore has sentenced an Australian man to nine days in prison for grabbing Hollywood star Ariana Grande at a movie premiere. Johnson Wen was found guilty of being a public nuisance over the incident last week at the Asia premiere for Wicked: For Good. Social media videos show Wen jumping the barriers, charging at a visibly shocked Grande and grabbing her shoulders. The incident sparked outrage in Singapore, where many called for the arrest and deportation of Wen, who has a history of disrupting concerts and celebrity events.

Stay tuned for more news………….