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BULLETIN 12 September 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa commits to a thorough review of the Justice minister’s report
# The ACDP says Ramaphosa must send the Bela Bill back to Parliament
# And the shares in Trump’s company slump after the presidential debate

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged a thorough review of a report from Justice minister Thembi Simelane, facing scrutiny over the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. Simelane allegedly received a suspicious loan during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the president is committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity within the national executive and will consider all facts before making any decisions: 

# The ACDP says it is concerned that president Cyril Ramaphosa intends to sign the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill into law despite widespread public objections. The Bela Bill amongst other things makes Grade R the new compulsory school-starting age and criminalises parents who don’t ensure their children are in school. ACDP’s, Keeno Petersen, says they reject the bill in its current form as they contest provisions that impact homeschooling, learner pregnancy, and limiting the powers of school governing bodies:

# The ANC in Limpopo has reiterated its call for legal action against those involved in the VBS Mutual Bank collapse. This comes amid debates over the Justice minister’s alleged indirect benefits from the bank. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party awaits Ramaphosa’s decision. Simelane will appear before the ANC’s committee of elders, with her future expected to be discussed at a special NEC meeting on 28 September. The ANC in Limpopo has also backed the resuscitation of VBS Mutual Bank.

# The lawyer of the 21-year-old man accused of murdering Sandton teacher, Kirsten Kluyts, last year will be taking the matter to the High Court. This comes after the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court denied Bafana Mahungela’s bail application. He has been charged with kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted rape, and defeating the ends of justice. Kluyts’ lifeless body was found at George Lea Park in Sandton. Mahungela’s lawyer Itumeleng Masako says fairness has to prevail:

# Kamala Harris seems to have won the first debate against Donald Trump, as shares in the American Republican presidential candidate’s company, the Trump Media and Technology Group, slumped by 14-percent hours after the live showdown. Betting odds grew on the Democratic Party nominee to win November’s election after she regularly rattled Trump with attacks on his fitness for office, his support of abortion restrictions, and his legal woes. Reuters reports the stock has now decreased by almost 60-percent since Harris became the candidate in July.

# Cricket: England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, will tour Pakistan with his team next month after a hamstring tear kept him out of the recent series against Sri Lanka. He is continuing his recovery, together with Zak Crawley, who fractured a finger in July. Eight players remain from the squad that beat Pakistan 3-nil in 2022. The two countries will face each other in three Tests from the seventh of October. Stokes also committed to M-I Cape Town in next year’s third edition of the SA20.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-89-cents and the euro at 19-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-34-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-393-dollars-3-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-512-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-69-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….