News 07:00

BULLETIN 4 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government secures funding of 5.6-billion-rand to support service delivery
# Israel says America’s sanctions may push Iran into extreme measures
# And rugby: The All Blacks coach downplays talk of a rift with Rassie Erasmus

# Government has secured around 5.6-billion-rand in concessional loan financing to support National Treasury’s Metro Trading Services Reform programme. The funding comes from the German and French Development Cooperation via KfW Development Bank and the French Development Agency. The programme is aimed at turning around electricity, water and sanitation, and solid waste management in South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities. Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana says that, given the scale of investment required to turn around trading services, the metros must increase investment and secure additional financing to complement the reform funding.

# Trade union Solidarity has welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act until the end of 2028. However, the union is concerned that South Africa could be excluded from the programme. It warns losing AGOA access could hurt the car and farming industries and cost thousands of jobs. Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans urged the US to keep South Africa in AGOA as the extension provides trade stability:

# The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster has activated a coordinated stabilisation plan aimed at restoring normality and ensuring the safety of all residents at the Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. This follows ongoing instability, violent protests, road blockades, intimidation, and disruption of schooling, business operations, and public services. Concerns relate to municipal governance matters and allegations against the municipal manager, who has since been put on precautionary suspension. The cluster has also deployed a team led by several government departments to stabilise the municipality.

# Israel’s Defence minister, Israel Katz, says that while the new US economic sanctions against Iran appear to be effective, the increased pressure could lead Tehran into extreme measures. Last month, the US Treasury announced a new series of sanctions to suffocate the Iranian economy. The US military has also resumed strikes against Tehran. In retaliation, Iran attacked American military targets in the Gulf and in Jordan, but has refrained from targeting Israel. Katz warns that if Iran attacks Israel, it will strike all of Tehran’s national military and civilian infrastructure.

# Rugby: All Blacks coach Dave Rennie says there is no bad blood between him and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus. This follows his accusations over South Africa’s alleged underhanded tactics in the scrum after the second Test in Cape Town last weekend. He suggested the Boks were “walking around” opponents in the set-piece. Rennie says they are not going out of their way to create narratives around the scrum ahead of the third Test in Johannesburg tomorrow:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-98-cents and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-781-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-471-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Run for Rangers has raised more than 549-thousand-rand to support conservation and anti-poaching efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. The money will go towards equipment and training for rangers, strengthen the fight against wildlife crime, as well as new facilities for a K9 anti-poaching unit. Project Rhino says the funds will provide practical support to rangers working on the frontline to protect rhinos and other wildlife.

Stay tuned for more news………….