News 08:00

BULLETIN 11 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The NPA and Justice ministry disagree over the Zondo database
# Transnet seeks 51-billion-rand to revive the rail network
# And it is Trump versus Harris in their first debate

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, says they have been requesting unhindered access to the Zondo Commission’s database for about four years, as they try to prosecute state capture-related cases. The National Prosecuting Authority and the ID have reportedly been denied unfettered access to the database due to a lack of maintenance. Department of Justice and Constitutional Development director-general, Doc Mashabane, has denied blocking the NPA from accessing vital state capture evidence:

# Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips has revealed the scale of the challenge in restoring the rail network, stating that 51-billion-rand is needed for maintenance. In a presentation to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Phillips emphasised the urgency of addressing a significant debt burden and an extensive backlog. She says Transnet aims to return to 2017/18 freight volumes, with an additional 19-billion-rand needed over five years for future sustainability.

# ​​The Johannesburg Development Agency says the induction of its new board members marks a significant milestone, as it continues its mission to drive sustainable urban development and economic growth in Johannesburg. Julias Maputla has been appointed as the board’s chairperson, with ten non-executive directors. City of Johannesburg’s spokesperson, Virgil James, says the new board members bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will be instrumental in guiding the agency’s strategic initiatives:

# ​​US vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump dealt with everything from the economy, January 6, the Israel/Gaza war and race in a high-stakes ABC News presidential debate. Trump defended the January 6 rioters and refused to acknowledge he lost the 2020 presidential election. In his closing statement, the former president aimed at the Biden-Harris administration:

# Tennis: 2022 champions Canada made a winning start to its Group D Davis Cup Finals group stage easing past Argentina two-one in Manchester, England. Denis Shapovalov and  Felix Auger-Aliassime won their singles matches while Argentina’s doubles specialists Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni then scored a, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, victory against Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil. Meanwhile, Germany dominated their Group C tie beating Slovakia three-nil. Champions Italy open their title defence against Brazil in Bologna.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-91-cents and the euro at 19-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 56-thousand-863-dollars-71-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-519-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….