News 09:00

BULLETIN 30 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Hlabisa outlines the next steps with the White Paper on Local Government
# Power is restored to three Tshwane substations
# And, Donald Trump changes the term Artificial Intelligence to “Super Intelligence”

# Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velinkosini Hlabisa has welcomed Cabinet’s approval of the Reviewed White Paper on Local Government, calling it a game-changer for reforming the country’s local government system. The reforms aim to build a local government system that is fit for purpose, financially sustainable, accountable and responsive to the needs of communities. Hlabisa says his department will now develop a structured Local Government Transition Plan to guide the implementation of the reforms. He says every community must experience the difference that a functioning local government makes.

# The Rethink Your Drink Campaign says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a coordinated government response to alcohol-related violence must be treated as a deadline for action. The president has directed the minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and other government departments to develop a plan within 60 days around liquor consumption to reduce alcohol-related violence. The campaign’s spokesperson, Kashifa Ancer, says they agree with Ramaphosa that harmful alcohol use is a significant aggravating factor in interpersonal violence:

# The City of Tshwane says power has been restored to Lynnwood, Mooikloof and Willows substations following an explosion at the Waltloo substation, which caused a trip at the Njala infeed station yesterday. Njala is the substation that feeds a large portion of the metro’s electricity supply. The trip affected at least eleven primary substations. Tshwane mayor’s spokesperson, Samkelo Mgobozi, says the estimated time of restoration to energise Phumulani, Koedoespoort and Pyramid is unknown at this stage:

# US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming the term artificial intelligence to “Super Intelligence”, to be used in official communications by his administration. He met with top technology executives, including those from OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, Meta and Google, at the White House yesterday. There have been calls for tighter oversight of AI and a slowdown in developing the technology. Trump says the executives signed a “morally binding” document that would serve as a form of protection from potential risks of artificial intelligence:

# Rugby: Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio is putting his 2003 Rugby World Cup winner’s medal up for auction, amid ongoing financial difficulties. The 54-year-old was declared bankrupt last year and has listed a collection of memorabilia from his career for sale. The World Cup medal is expected to fetch between 50-thousand and 80-thousand pounds — about 1.1-million to 1.7-million-rand. Dallaglio played in England’s 20-17 victory over Australia in the 2003 final in Sydney. The auction, including his 2007 World Cup runners-up medal and other honours, is expected to raise about 3.9-million-rand.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-68-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-376-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-178-dollars a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….