News 08:00

BULLETIN 17 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# RISE Mzansi says South Africa will not be forced to abandon its transformation laws
# Another Ekurhuleni victim is identified
# And swimming: Tatjana Smith makes her comeback

# RISE Mzansi says US president Donald Trump’s attempt to force South Africa to abandon transformation laws and constitutional order must be rejected entirely. This comes as the Trump administration has imposed new visa restrictions targeting those it accuses of being involved in race‑based discrimination and uncompensated land seizures in South Africa. RISE Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi says the country’s democracy and sovereignty must be respected and protected:

# National Treasury says government will ensure that the Eskom unbundling process is carefully sequenced and managed to address all risks. Work is ongoing to transfer ownership and control of the power utility’s grid assets to an independent Transmission System Operator. The TSO will oversee system and market operations and support the development of a competitive wholesale electricity market. Treasury’s director-general Duncan Pieterse says the transaction will be structured so Eskom is not worse off, the transmission entity is financially sustainable, and the fiscal strategy remains on track.

# Police have confirmed the identity of the eighth woman whose body was discovered in KwaThema, in Springs, in the East Rand. She has been identified as 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane. According to police, Motapane was last seen alive on Sunday, and at the time her body was discovered, her family had not reported her missing. Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province will use all available resources to ensure those responsible for the murders of women are brought to justice:

# The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2023 to address inflation, which remains above its two-percent target. In a unanimous decision, the Fed board voted to raise its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 3.75-percent to four-percent. This comes despite calls from president Donald Trump to cut rates. Fed chairman Kevin Warsh says three things changed since its July meeting: the economy strengthened, inflation didn’t slow, and geopolitical tensions intensified:

# Swimming: South Africa’s most decorated Olympian Tatjana Smith has come out of retirement as she has confirmed her participation in the South African Short Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, next week. The 29-year-old retired from all competition after winning gold and silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Smith will make her comeback by competing in the 50, 100 and 200-metre breaststroke events, as well as some relays. Other top names who are set to compete include Michael Houlie,  Hannah Pearse, Georgia Nel, Guy Brooks and Chris Smith.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-87-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-418-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-285-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….