News 17:00

BULLETIN 30 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Treasury creates a new model for private participation in the energy sector
# Tshwane’s acting mayor says service delivery remains a key priority
# And cricket: Kagiso Rabada returns for the Proteas’ Test series in Bangladesh

# The National Treasury is creating a new model for private participation in the energy sector to de-risk projects without direct government guarantees. Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse says the plan involves using a credit guarantee vehicle, backed by the World Bank’s Multi-lateral Investment Guarantee Agency. The approach aims to reduce government liability while encouraging private investment, particularly in transmission. Eskom’s 14-thousand-kilometre backlog in transmission lines and weak financial position necessitate private sector involvement, which requires tariff reform.

# Tshwane’s acting mayor, ActionSA’s Nasiphi Moya, says service delivery remains a key priority while a stable government is being formed. This follows the removal of DA mayor Cilliers Brink through a motion of no confidence last Thursday. Speaker of the council Mncedi Ndzwanana said the election of a new mayor must be done within 14 days after the last council sitting on 26 September. Moya says residents are in good hands with reliable and responsive city officials.

# The Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape has sentenced Nomphelo Maloyi and accomplice Yithulwazi Kay to 26-years imprisonment each for the murder of Maloyi’s uncle, Mynhardt Maloyi, in Graaff-Reinet in 2022. The court found that Nomphelo, the beneficiary of insurance policies worth 165-thousand-rand, orchestrated the murder and offered Kay 20-thousand-rand to help. The two tied Mynhardt, and stabbed him. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Luxolo Tyali says they are not happy with the sentence:

# Cricket: Proteas pace bowler Kagiso Rabada returns to the fold as Test coach Shukri Conrad announced a 15-man squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh next month. The Proteas will arrive in Dhaka on 16 October, with the first match starting five days later. Rabada will spearhead the pace attack, which includes Western Province duo Nandré Burger and Dane Paterson. Conrad says they don’t expect pace-friendly conditions:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-80-dollars-43-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-638-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The National Sea Rescue Institute urges heightened safety awareness along the coast and inland as cold fronts and spring tide create hazardous conditions. Cold fronts and the new moon spring tide have led to rough seas and strong rip currents, posing risks to beachgoers, boaters, and coastal hikers. Snow and rain are also forecast, making inland waterways dangerous. The institute’s Craig Lambinon says emergency services remain on high alert:

Stay tuned for more news………….