News 18:00

BULLETIN 8 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ronald Lamola supports tougher action against those spreading misinformation about South Africa overseas
# The deputy president Paul Mashatile returns to work after full recovery
# And, soccer: Coach Miguel Cardoso won’t risk injured Sundowns players at the MTN8 final

# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola supports calls for action against individuals and organisations accused of spreading misinformation about South Africa abroad. Parliament’s portfolio committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo has proposed legislation allowing citizenship to be stripped. Lamola says freedom of speech does not extend to spreading lies and misinformation, which he believes must be dealt with. However, the DA’s Ryan Smith says such laws could infringe on freedom of expression.

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has resumed his official duties after undergoing a minor medical procedure and making a full recovery. He returned to work at the beginning of the week. Acting spokesperson Keith Khoza says Mashatile is expected to chair cabinet committees, attend the mid-term budget policy statement, engage with interfaith communities, answer oral questions in the National Council of Provinces and resume his political programme:

# The City of Cape Town has launched a specialised SWAT unit to respond rapidly to serious and high-risk crime. The unit will deal with incidents including gang violence, extortion and mass shootings. It’s equipped with an armoured vehicle, night-vision and heat-detection technology, as well as specialised firearms and tactical equipment. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the unit will support communities when conventional policing resources are stretched:

# K-pop group ENHYPEN and its fans are supporting a global blood donation campaign with the World Health Organisation. The group joined the WHO’s World Blood Donor Day campaign, encouraging people to donate blood and help save lives. ENHYPEN members also donated blood themselves. The campaign’s online pledge drive saw participation surge from one-thousand-200 to eight-thousand-300 after the group’s promotional videos were released, with most participants using names linked to the group’s fandom, ENGENE.

# Soccer: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he will not risk injured players Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba and Bathusi Aubaas in Saturday’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The Bafana Bafana internationals are recovering from injuries sustained during national duty. Cardoso says players will only feature if they are fully fit, with medical assessments continuing ahead of the final:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-75-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-129-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….