News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Institute of Race Relations urges the US not to punish South Africans for government policies
# A UK-Iranian national is arrested in connection with the RAF Fairford incident
# And cricket: South Africa will begin the World Cup against New Zealand

# The Institute of Race Relations has asked the US to separate the government from ordinary South Africans when making changes to its foreign policy. The organisation has shared its latest survey with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which shows many citizens do not share the government’s views on race laws and other policies. The institute’s Makone Maja says US policies targeting the government should not unfairly affect ordinary citizens:

# Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille says investment in tourism infrastructure is critical to ensuring the sector can respond to growing demand. According to Statistics South Africa, tourism directly employed 953-thousand-981 people in 2024, accounting for 5.7-percent of total employment, while its direct contribution to the economy reached 4.9-percent of gross domestic product. De Lille says her department has established a Tourism Infrastructure Facilitation Unit to help remove barriers faced by investors and assist priority projects towards implementation:

# Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has been granted leave to appeal a High Court ruling in the defamation case involving EFF leader Julius Malema. The dispute arose when Malema stated that Mabuyane had “stolen” a master’s degree from the University of Fort Hare. The premier said the statements implied fraud, dishonesty and criminal conduct. In June, Mabuyane’s urgent court application to stop Malema from making the defamatory statements was dismissed. Mabuyane says he welcomes the opportunity for the Supreme Court of Appeal to consider the matter.

# The 14th Joburg Indaba will bring together leaders from more than 15 mining companies, government, state-owned enterprises and industry experts to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the mining sector. The event takes place in Johannesburg on 7 and 8 October. Discussions will cover geopolitical risks, local government elections, mining policy, investor confidence and logistics reform. Speakers include Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad and Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips. Mineral and Petroleum Resources minister Gwede Mantashe is expected to deliver the closing address.

# British counter-terrorism police have arrested a dual UK-Iranian national in Westminster, London, in connection with the incident at RAF Fairford. The 26-year-old has been apprehended on suspicion ‌‌of preparing ‘terrorist acts’. Meanwhile, police have also questioned a second man, a 26-year-old UK national, and searched two properties. Police released five men arrested on Sunday on bail. Senior Counter Terrorism Policing’s Vicki Evans says they are looking at all possible angles – including foreign state involvement. Iran denies involvement in the alleged plot on the airbase.

# Cricket: Co-host South Africa has been placed in Group B alongside England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and a qualifier in the group stage of the 2027 Men’s World Cup. Defending champions Australia are in Group A with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, co-host Zimbabwe and a qualifier. The Proteas will begin their campaign against New Zealand at Newlands in Cape Town on October 9. The top three teams of each group will move into the Super 7 phase, with the better fourth-place finisher across the two groups taking the seventh spot.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-71-cents and the euro at 18-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 84-thousand-910-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-151-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….