News 15:00

BULLETIN 19 September 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mac Maharaj praises Pravin Gordhan as incorruptible
# The DA accuses a Gauteng MEC of using POPIA to shield unqualified ANC cadre appointments in Emfuleni
# And rugby: Erasmus expects some flair and physicality from Lukhanyo Am at inside centre

# Former anti-apartheid activist Mac Maharaj has hailed the late minister Pravin Gordhan as incorruptible at his funeral at the Durban International Convention Centre. Maharaj praised Gordhan’s key role in the fight for freedom, highlighting his fearless stance against state capture. He says despite facing insults, Gordhan’s integrity remained intact, calling his friend a courageous defender of South Africa:

# The DA says Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo uses the Protection of Personal Information Act to hide the employment of unqualified ANC cadres in the Emfuleni Municipality. According to the party, this has contributed to service delivery failures, including Emfuleni’s eight-billion-rand debt to Eskom, sewage problems in the Vaal River, and crumbling infrastructure. The DA’s Kingsol Chabalala calls for competent officials to be hired to restore services in the municipality: 

# The Commission for Gender Equality has uncovered troubling conditions in Eastern Cape hospitals, including dirty facilities, bed shortages, and pigeons roaming the wards. The investigation revealed overcrowding, poor staffing, and weak infection control across six hospitals including Bhisho, Frere, and Dora Nginza. The commission’s CEO Dennis Matotoka calls for urgent improvements in infection control, quality management and disability access. The Department of Health, despite budget constraints, promised to address these issues and enhance hospital conditions. 

# Turkey accused Israel of seeking to expand the war in Gaza to Lebanon with the wave of deadly explosions that swept though Hezbollah strongholds. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says the escalation in the region is alarming. The blasts have killed 32 people in two days, including two children, wounding more than three-thousand others, according to Lebanese health ministry figures. Israel has not commented on the unprecedented operation in which Hezbollah operatives’ walkie-talkies and pagers exploded in supermarkets, at funerals and on streets. Turkey blames Israel for the explosions.

# Rugby: The penultimate round of the Rugby Championship will see Australia hosting New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday, while South Africa are visiting Argentina in Santiago. The Springboks made ten changes to their starting-15, with Lukhanyo Am at inside centre, instead of his usual position of outside centre. Coach Rassie Erasmus hopes Am can add some flair and physicality:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-402-dollars-11-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-585-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-22-cents a barrel

Stay tuned for more news………….