News 12:00

BULLETIN 16 September 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Forum for South Africa calls for urgent action after another woman’s body was discovered in Ekurhuleni
# The American ambassador to South Africa says the time for endless dialogue has run its course following new visa restrictions
# And rugby: The Springbok coach says player management is key ahead of the one-off Test against the Wallabies

# Forum for South Africa is deeply concerned and outraged by the discovery of yet another woman’s body in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, bringing the total in die Kempton Park area to eight. Forum leader Tebogo Mashilompane calls for the immediate activation of a 72-hour emergency response involving police, acting minister Firoz Cachalia, acting commissioner Puleng Dimpane, and all other relevant law-enforcement agencies:

Meanwhile, North West police have warned the public about a social media post alleging that a suspect described as the Kempton Park serial killer has relocated to Potchefstroom, prompting an extensive police operation in the city. Police spokesperson Adéle Myburgh says members of the public should not treat the circulating message as an official police alert:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Public Service Commission Bill into law. It strengthens the role of the commission in promoting constitutional values, professional ethics and effective public administration. It will allow the commission to operate as an independent and impartial constitutional body, with a view to improving its effectiveness and efficiency within the Public Service. The Presidency says the commission is mandated to monitor and evaluate a wide range of practices within the Public Service, as well as investigate administrative practices and failures in service delivery.

# US ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell, says the new visa restriction policy on South Africans is the first step in a series of escalatory measures that will show America’s firm resolve. The restrictions are targeting people America considers responsible for promoting race-based discrimination, inciting violence against Afrikaners and other minority groups, or enabling land expropriation without compensation. Bozell says America wants strong and lasting relations with the South African government, but so far it has shown it cares for neither.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says with the demanding travel schedule over the last few weeks, player management will be key, as they begin preparations for their one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth next Sunday. The Boks arrived in Australia yesterday evening following their series victory over the All Blacks in Baltimore in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. Erasmus says they will face a determined Wallabies side that will want to put on a good show in front of their home crowd.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-25-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-507-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-333-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 109-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….