News 09:00

BULLETIN 27 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU condemns the recycling of dismissed officials
# Chris Yelland says the gas monopoly needs restructuring
# And AfriForum urges a do-it-yourself approach in Tshwane

# Cosatu says it rejects the practice of appointing tainted officials in public entities, a pattern which has become prevalent in the country’s municipalities. In the latest incident, chief financial officer Nandipha Khanyisile Sibobi was fired by the Eastern Cape government and the KwaZulu Natal Umgungundlovu Economic Development Agency for gross misconduct. However, she was reappointed to the same position at Kumkani Mhlontlo Municipality early this year. Cosatu’s, Zanele Sabela, says the culture of recycling controversial figures exposes a lack of governance:

# A gas supply cliff in South Africa would have significant socioeconomic and job-loss implications and would threaten key industrial sectors that rely on natural gas and methane-rich gas. This is according to energy expert Chris Yelland. The current main source of supply, two gas fields in Mozambique operated by Sasol, will not supply South African clients from mid-2026. The Industrial Gas Users Association says a gas supply cliff would put approximately 60-thousand direct jobs at risk. Yelland says a restructuring of the gas supply monopoly in the country is needed.

# AfriForum has stressed a do-it-yourself approach after Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink was removed through a no-confidence vote by the ANC, ActionSA, and EFF. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl urged Pretoria residents to join their branches for safer communities, following a 17-thousand-signature petition against an ANC-EFF coalition. He emphasised that community action is vital when party politics fail:

# At least 46 people, mostly children and women, drowned while ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding, during the observance of a Hindu religious festival in eastern India. The three-day Jivitputrika festival celebrates children’s well-being every year and is also marked with mothers fasting for them. Officials say people ignored dangerous water levels in rivers while bathing to celebrate the festival. The Bihar state government has announced compensation for the families of each of the deceased.

# Golf: Team USA made a dominant start to the Presidents Cup in Montreal, Canada, winning all five matches in round one against the International Team. World number one Scottie Scheffler and playing partner Russell Henley led from the front for Team USA, delivering the day’s most comprehensive win, beating South Korean pair Tom Kim and Sungjae Im. Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay also delivered for America. Team USA is attempting to win the Presidents Cup for a tenth successive time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-22-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-336-dollars-21-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-670-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….