News 16:00
BULLETIN 27 October 4 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Minister Lamola calls for protection against a new scramble for Africa’s minerals
# The Construction Industry Board blacklists 75 contractors for life
# And soccer: Minister McKenzie proposes changes for the Soweto derby to improve crowd management
# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola has warned against a new scramble for Africa, urging countries to protect their critical mineral wealth from foreign exploitation. Addressing the second Africa and African Diaspora Conference in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, Lamola criticised the export of raw minerals for processing elsewhere, stating African countries must invest in industrialisation to create jobs for young people. He emphasised resource sovereignty is key to tackling inequality:
# The Construction Industry Development Board has permanently deregistered and blacklisted 75 contractors for breaching registration requirements. Chairperson Khulile Nzo told a media briefing in Pretoria the contractors were removed from the National Register for life for misrepresentation, including fraudulent bank statements and falsified project histories. He says the action, which started in 2024, aims to stop underperforming and fraudulent contractors securing state contracts and protect public funds. Among those affected is Moriel Group, linked to businessman Lawrence Mudzinganyama, flagged via the board’s hotline in late 2025.
# The DA is taking the ANC-led City of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng to the Human Rights Commission over 659-million-rand in infrastructure listed as completed but unopened. Facilities include three reservoirs: the 123-million-rand Selcourt, 115-million-rand Modder East and 107-million-rand Masechba reservoirs, plus a 46-million-rand Early Childhood Development centre closed since 2018 and a 108-million-rand Reiger Park enterprise hub. The DA’s Khathutshelo Rasilingwane says this violates rights to water, dignity and children’s rights, and demands an investigation.
Moving abroad:
# Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky. But they continue with strikes elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. The ceasefire should enable deliveries of aid as well as evacuations from the frontline town, grappling with acute food and medicine shortages. Russia’s Defence Ministry says it stopped shelling in the direction of Ukraine’s city of Kherson to prepare for the effort in Oleshky, which faces Kherson across the Dnipro River.
# Soccer: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie says stadiums must become safer and family-friendly. He conducted an oversight walkabout at FNB Stadium ahead of Saturday’s sold-out Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. This follows concerns over crowd safety, congestion, and spectator behaviour at previous derbies. McKenzie says some of the proposed changes include numbered seats to improve crowd management, and allowing buses to share the emergency lanes to ease traffic congestion:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-859-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-14-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 115-dollars-28-sents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….