News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Civic Root Advocacy says delays in processing the Coalition Bill reflect a lack of urgency from government
# Iran accuses Canada of yielding to US pressure
# And soccer: Presidential candidate gives SAFA a deadline to pay Bafana Bafana’s World Cup bonuses

# Civic Root Advocacy says the delayed processing of the Coalition Bill in Parliament reveals government’s inherent lack of urgency in solving the challenges facing local government. The legislation aims to standardise coalition frameworks within local governments. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs wants the bill passed and signed into law before the November local government elections. Civic Root Advocacy researcher Hlumelo Xaba says the stalling of the bill risks prolonging the persistent instability in hung municipalities beyond the elections. 

# More than 16-thousand suspects were arrested during a week-long nationwide crime crackdown targeting violent crime, illicit trade, drug trafficking, immigration offences, illegal firearms, and other offences. The Shanela operations resulted in the arrest of five-thousand-520 wanted individuals linked to serious and violent crimes. Police spokesperson Vincent Mukhathi says cigarettes worth more than 41-million-rand were seized, as well as copper and metal valued at 20-million-rand:

Meanwhile, the DA says crime is becoming a growing threat to rural and farming communities in the Western Cape. This follows two incidents in the Cape Winelands over the weekend, including an attack on two residents at a farm along Bottelary Road. The DA’s Benedicta van Minnen says 133 attacks on farmers have been recorded so far this year, calling for a province-wide law enforcement response to protect farming and rural communities:

Moving abroad:

# Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused Canada of appeasing its bullying neighbour, the US, and displaying strategic confusion and submission to intimidation. Ottawa earlier condemned Tehran’s destabilising actions in the Middle East, committing to work with partners to maintain pressure on Iran, including imposing sanctions and supporting efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says Canada cannot credibly present itself as a champion of peace and security, freedom of navigation, and international law while simultaneously backing US military aggression.

# Soccer: SAFA presidential candidate Sandile Zungu has given the association until Thursday to pay Bafana Bafana players and the technical team their World Cup bonuses. SAFA has attributed the delay in the payment of around 2.5-million-rand to each player to outstanding international tax compliance requirements in the US and Mexico, where South Africa played tournament matches. Zungu has warned those responsible will be fired if he is elected on Saturday:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-4-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-302-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-408-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….