News 09:00

BULLETIN 4 September, 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF wants the election of the new Defence Committee co-chairperson declared unconstitutional
# COSATU implores the Foschini Group to tread carefully amid store closures
# And rugby: Morné Steyn says the Boks will have an incredible experience at the FNB Stadium tomorrow

# The EFF has written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, demanding that she declare the election of Joint Standing Committee on Defence co-chairperson, Mzimasi Hala, unconstitutional and illegal. This follows the ANC’s sudden and unexplained removal of Malusi Gigaba from the position on Wednesday. The EFF says the meeting in which Hala was appointed had been convened and conducted in violation of Parliament’s Joint Rules. It argues that a joint committee cannot elect a replacement for a position without a formal withdrawal or resignation being properly placed before Parliament.

# Union federation COSATU has urged the Foschini Group to earnestly consider the impact of store closures on its staff and find an alternative solution. The company plans to close about 280 stores in Africa through 2029, as the retailer hones in on online sales, which are outpacing the performance of its physical operations. COSATU’s spokesperson, Nonzuzo Dlamini, says these planned closures come at a time when Artificial intelligence and automation are driving retrenchments. She says workers are often left without adequate compensation:

# The IFP is demanding the immediate deployment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Task Team to investigate the killing of two of its councillors in separate incidents. The party’s Ward 17 councillor, Khethelo Mdluli, under the uMlalazi Municipality, was shot at his home in Gingindlovu last week, and succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Ward 8 councillor candidate for uMshwathi Municipality Lucky Sokhela was gunned down on Tuesday. IFP spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, says two political candidates murdered within seven days is an alarming development:

# The deadlocked jury in the gripping case of a Massachusetts mother charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children in 2023 is set to continue a seventh day of deliberations today. Thirty-six-year-old Lindsay Clancy does not deny strangling her children; however, her lawyer says she should not be held criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors have argued Clancy acted intentionally, rationally, and swiftly to kill her children. If the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the judge could order a mistrial.

# Rugby: Former Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn says the Class of 2026 is in for an incredible experience in tomorrow’s third Test against the All Blacks at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The venue, known as the Calabash, is expected to be packed with up to 90-thousand spectators. Lock Eben Etzebeth and captain Siya Kolisi are the only two Boks to have played in the stadium before. Steyn played there twice during his career and says it’s the next level before 90-thousand people supporting you.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-98-cents and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-62-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-197-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-469-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….