News 16:00

BULLETIN 1 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Protector clears government on the 46-million-rand Moloto rail corridor studies
# The Zimbabwean businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama is granted 15-thousand-rand bail
# And cricket: One-hundred-and-56 players are up for grabs at an auction for SA20’s fifth season

# Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has cleared government’s spending of 46-million-rand on two feasibility studies for the proposed Moloto rail corridor, meant to link Mpumalanga and Limpopo with Tshwane. An investigation found both studies were legally compliant and served different purposes. The first, in 2007, cost 30-million-rand and the second, in 2012, 16-million-rand. Gcaleka says the project was abandoned because of affordability and Treasury concerns, and delayed by budget constraints and not maladministration:

# Zimbabwean businessman and former chairperson and director of Moriel Infrastructure Group, Lawrence Mudzinganyama, has been granted 15-thousand-rand bail by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. He faces ten charges, including intimidation, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, crimen injuria and fraud linked to an incident at a Sandton restaurant in Johannesburg. He allegedly entered a women’s powder room and threatened three witnesses. Mudzinganyama must report to police weekly, surrender his travel documents and remain in Gauteng. The matter returns to court on October 15.

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse welcomes Eskom’s decision to extend its waiver of registration charges for small solar systems of up to 50 kilovolt-amperes until further notice. However, the organisation argues the utility still insists registration is compulsory, even for safe home systems that don’t feed power into the grid. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage agrees systems that export electricity should meet approval, metering and connection requirements:

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has announced plans for South Korea to invest 3.3-trillion-rand in American projects, including eight nuclear reactors and a gas-fired power plant in Texas. Seoul says a proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska is not yet guaranteed and the project must first pass commercial and legal reviews. The wider investment forms part of a 5.8-trillion -rand package agreed under a trade deal between Washington and Seoul. Trump says the investments will strengthen US energy production, while South Korea stresses individual projects must make commercial sense.

# Cricket: Experienced locals Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen and Wiaan Mulder are among the player up for grabs in next week’s auction for SA20s fifth season. Hundred-and-56 players were shortlisted from the 789 applications received. Ninety-five South Africans and 61 overseas players are available for four teams. Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their 19-player squads and won’t participate in the auction. Dewald Brevis broke the record for the highest price when Pretoria Capitals bought him for 16.5-million-rand last year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-55-cents and the euro at 18-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-898-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-178-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….