News 09:00

BULLETIN 10 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC will oppose the DA’s application to intervene in their Electoral Court case
# Zelensky’s plane was almost hit by a Russian drone while taking off from Moldova
# And tennis: Elena Rybakina clinches the number one ranking

# The ANC says it will oppose the DA’s application to intervene in its Electoral Court case over the submission of candidate lists in six municipalities for the November local government elections. The ANC is appealing the Electoral Commission’s exclusion of candidates, after missing the 28 August deadline, blaming a “technical glitch” on the online system. The DA argues that allowing the ANC to submit candidates after the deadline would prejudice parties that complied with the IEC rules. The ANC says the DA’s intervention is an act of campaigning, not of the Constitution.

# The Public Servants Association says it remains extremely concerned about structural weaknesses that continue to undermine the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s independence. This follows revelations about IDAC operations being exposed at the Madlanga Commission. PSA’s Claude Naicker says the IDAC’s direct reporting to the minister of Justice raises serious concerns about its autonomy and undermines perceptions of genuine independence. He says true independence requires insulation from political influence and administrative interference:

# Golden Arrow Bus Services has welcomed the Labour Court’s decision to grant an interdict preventing today’s planned strike action by the National Union for All Sectors. The issues raised by the union relate, among other things, to the application of disciplinary processes. Golden Arrow spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, says that where an employee believes that disciplinary action has been unfairly applied, the appropriate dispute-resolution mechanisms, including processes through the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council, remain available:

# A plane carrying Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was almost hit by a Russian drone entering Moldova’s airspace, which delayed the departure of the aircraft. Zelenskyy travelled to Oslo, Norway, from Moldova on Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of King Harald yesterday. The drone reportedly exploded some 160 kilometres from the Chișinău International Airport in the Moldovan capital. Moldova’s ambassador to the US, Vladislav Kulminski, told CNN that the incident was likely not an accident:

# Tennis: Two-time Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina has clinched the world number one ranking after making the US Open semifinals. The Kazakhstani defeated Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and will replace Aryna Sabalenka as world number one on Monday. Rybakina will face American Coco Gauff, who beat Russia’s Mirra Andreeva. In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev will play Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the semifinals, after the German defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. Khachanov advanced to the semifinals after Belgian Alexander Blockx was forced to retire injured.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-3-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-356-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-412-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….