News 08:00

BULLETIN 13 September 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says trade ties between South Africa and India are key to African trade
# The Justice Committee calls for public input on the candidates for the Information Regulator
# And rugby: The Boks clinch the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 3-1

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says India and South Africa must strengthen investment in transport, logistics, ports, digital connectivity, smart cities and industrial corridors to boost trade and economic integration across the African continent. Ramaphosa was speaking at the India-South Africa Business Leadership Roundtable, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The President says South Africa has identified 195 strategic integrated projects across priority industries, with a combined value of more than 1.61-trillion-rand. He says these projects present significant opportunities for investment and partnership between the two countries:

# COSATU has welcomed the General Mining Laws Amendment Bill, released by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as a key step towards tackling illegal mining. Illegal mining by heavily armed criminal syndicates has become a national crisis, claiming the lives of mine workers, security guards, police officers and members of the National Defence Force. COSATU’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks says illegal mining also threatens legitimate mining jobs, puts communities at risk and costs the economy more than 70-billion-rand annually in lost revenue:

# The Parliament Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development has published the names of candidates for vacant positions on the Information Regulator on Parliament’s website for public comment before 29 September. In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, members of the regulator must be appropriately qualified and South African citizens. The committee says at least one of the appointed members must have experience as a practising advocate or attorney, or as a professor of law at a university.

# The City of Tshwane has launched its Online Business Licence and Permit Platform, providing businesses and informal traders with a single digital channel to apply for, renew and track business licences and trading permits. The initiative forms part of the implementation of the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy. Mayoral committee member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, says the city expects the platform to contribute to shorter turnaround times, improved record-keeping and greater accountability in the processing of applications:

# South Africa and Lesotho have strengthened cooperation to combat the proliferation of illegal firearms, following the seizure and destruction of one-thousand-787 firearms confiscated during crime-fighting operations in Lesotho. Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane says the firearms were seized by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service during various operations and targeted crime-combating initiatives. She says the joint efforts demonstrate both countries’ commitment to Agenda 2063, which envisions an Africa where communities are safer and illicit firearms no longer fuel crime and violence.

# And rugby: The Springboks made sure they won the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series trophy outright by scoring an emphatic 43-28 win over the All Blacks in the fourth and final game in Baltimore on Saturday. South Africa scored six tries to New Zealand’s four, with Damian de Allende, Morné van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom crossing the line. South Africa was leading 17-14 at half-time. Captain Siya Kolisi had this to say after the match:

Stay tuned for more news………….