Breakfast Edition: 16 October 2015

WITS CAMPUS SHUTDOWN: The medical school campus at Wits is open today, but all classes are suspended till Monday following Thursday's second day of protests against 10 % fee increases for 2016. Witwatersrand University students who chose not to take part in demonstrations against the planned tuition fee increase said they supported the protest, but deplored the disruption of lectures on Thursday.

Protests entered a second day at the institution as students prevented vehicles from entering the premises. A group of protesters went into one of the buildings on campus, forcing those in classes to abandon lectures. Actuarial science student Dennis De-Geovin said he was unimpressed by the demonstrators. Spokesperson Shirona Patel has confirmed that Vice Chancellor Adam Habib is expected to meet with student representatives today. 

M1 BRIDGE COLLAPSE - THE INVESTIAGTION: Far removed from yesterday morning's traffic chaos on the M1, the Labour department has urged for patience as its inspectors investigate Wednesday afternoon's accident at Grayston - where a pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed - killing two motorists. Various investigations are underway, with the department's Makgadi Pela saying we might hear the findings of their preliminary investigation by early next week.

SARS HAS NEW MEASURES IN PLACE TO COMBAT SMUGGLING: The SA Revenue Service says measures like new high-tech baggage scanners and advanced and sophisticated profiling at the OR Tambo International Airport have contributed in the discovery of crystal meth worth more than R122-million since April. Spokesperson Luther Lebelo says this week alone, they found more than 54 kilos in two separate incidents.

OSCAR PISTORIUS TO WALK OUT OF PRISON NEXT WEEK: The Department of Correctional Services does not want to confirm whether Oscar Pistorius will be released into the care of uncle Arnold Pistorius to serve his correctional supervision at the family's luxurious mansion in Waterkloof in the east of Pretoria. The department's Manelisi Wolela is also staying mum as to whether this would be where Pistorius will stay till October 2019.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE IN JERUSALEM: In New York, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss an upsurge of violence between Israelis and the Palestinians. At least 30 Palestinians have died following weeks of violence with fears of a third Palestinian intifada or uprising. Pieter van der Merwe reports.

WORST NEWS OF THE WEEK: A 20-year-old woman has been arrested in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, for attempting to sell a 19-month old baby for 5-thousand rand. Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi says the young woman has not said anything yet about where the baby comes from.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE...WITH A SELFIE STICK? Brides are swopping their bouquets for selfie sticks. Yes, models at a recent bridal fashion show walked the ramp with crystal-encrusted selfie sticks instead of a bouquet of flowers, according to a report in the New York Post. The device, which has become a must have item in recent months, is covered in Swarovski crystals and plugs into the bride's phone, giving her a glittery gadget ideal for snapping a mid-aisle duck-face pic, the NY Post wrote.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH SNAKES: the snake is already one of the most feared creatures in the animal kingdom, but it is the rattlesnake that is probably the most famous. And while trying to get up close and personal, a US guy accidentally dropped his GoPro camera into a pit of rattlesnakes. This clip has instantly gone viral.

FINANCIAL INDICATORS:

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