News 18:00

BULLETIN 21 October 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government allocates billions to fight gender-based violence
# The DA welcomes budget changes but calls for more ambitious growth plans
# And, the Busan-shark was finally guided out of the canal after a month-long ordeal

 # Government has allocated 3.8-billion-rand over the medium term to hire more than three-thousand-500 social workers to strengthen prevention of gender-based violence and femicide. The government plans to increase sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and Thuthuzela Care Centres from 72 to 80 by 2028/2029. An additional 157.4-million-rand will go to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities for oversight. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says another 186-million-rand will support forensic and investigative capacity:

The DA meanwhile said the government needs faster and more ambitious economic reforms to boost growth and create jobs. The party welcomes the National Treasury’s plans to stabilise government debt, but the economic growth forecast of 1.2-percent is too low to make a meaningful difference to unemployment. The DA’s Kingsley Wakelin calls for reforms in electricity, ports and rail, as well as less red tape to attract investment:

And ActionSA says the temporary fuel relief announced in the mini budget is not enough to help struggling households. The party welcomed the extra 4.4-billion-rand for the South African Revenue Service to improve tax collection. However, it criticised the government for lowering the economic growth forecast to 1.2-percent and failing to present a clear plan to tackle unemployment and poverty. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley says the government must also crack down on illegal trade.

# Rugby: Rising Bulls star Reinhardt Ludwig extended his contract until the end of 2030. He came through the ranks after finishing school in Pretoria, and his versatility as flank or lock has become more important after Ruan Nortjé departed at the end of last season. Twenty-four-year-old Ludwig says it means a lot to him that the coaches and management have shown trust and belief in him. CEO Edgar Rathbone believes he has the athleticism and talent to become a mainstay in the Bulls’ starting team.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-989-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-132-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 110-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

# And finally, a shark that became a major attraction in the South Korean city of Busan has finally been guided out of the canal where she had been trapped for more than a month. Authorities succeeded in their third rescue attempt, using nets, floating platforms and divers to steer the three-metre female dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, towards the exit. She was later spotted swimming near the port’s first pier. More than 1.6-million people visited the waterfront to see her, and officials hope she will now reach the open sea.

Stay tuned for more news………….