News 13:00

BULLETIN 16 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electoral Court dismisses the ANC’s challenge against the IEC over late candidate lists submissions
# Forum for South Africa calls for urgent action as another woman’s body is discovered in Ekurhuleni
# And all four supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran’s North American tour

# The ANC has lost its Electoral Court challenge against the Electoral Commission over the late submission of candidate lists for six municipalities ahead of the 4 November local government elections. The court rejected the ANC’s argument that details of 181 affected nominations should still be accepted as final candidate lists. The court granted the DA permission to intervene, while it rejected the African Transformation Movement’s late application to intervene. There was no order for costs.

# Solidarity says it’s time for South Africa to phase out its race-based policies, not because the US demands it, but because it’s the right thing to do. The US has announced new visa restrictions targeting those who promote race-based discrimination, incite violence against Afrikaners and other minority groups, or enable land confiscation without compensation. Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans says the race-based policies violate numerous international conventions and benefit only a small elite:

# 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:

Moving abroad:

# All four supporting acts for British singer Ed Sheeran’s North American tour have withdrawn in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was dropped from the line-up after making pro-Palestinian comments. Macklemore called for a free Palestine and showed images of devastation in Gaza during two concerts in New Jersey. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga and Lukas Graham have now announced their departures, saying artists should not be silenced for speaking about the conflict in Gaza. Sheeran says removing Macklemore was the promoter’s decision and not his.

# Soccer: The City of Cape Town is strengthening its partnership with Oasis Reach for Your Dreams through the Homeless World Cup programme, using soccer to support people who have experienced homelessness. Mayoral committee member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, says eight players have now been selected to represent South Africa at the Homeless World Cup in Mexico in January next year, after nearly 60 players took part in trials:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-28-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-835-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-334-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….