News 09:00

BULLETIN 1 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African government is calling for an immediate end to the deadly conflict in Sudan
# The Employment Equity compliance for companies kicks in today
# And the FF Plus wants clarity on Tshwane’s debt-relief programme

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says the prolonged civil war in Sudan poses a grave threat to the stability and economic prosperity of the country and the broader region. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023, has claimed the lives of over 150-thousand people. Dirco’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says there is an urgent need to put an end to this conflict, where indiscriminate human rights abuses are committed daily:

# The submission of Employment Equity Reports for the 2025 reporting period begins today. The Department of Labour has set out specific numerical targets across 18 industries that businesses must fill with designated employees. The National Employers’ Association of SA and Sakeliga last week lost an urgent legal challenge, where they sought an interim order to suspend the employment equity regulations pending a review application. Businesses that fail to comply could face fines of up to 1.5-million-rand or two-percent of turnover, and have their Employment Equity Compliance Certificates withdrawn.

# The Freedom Front Plus is demanding clarification from the City of Tshwane on the statutory foundation of the debt-relief programme, and its impact on the metro’s cash flow. The programme is aimed at helping residents, businesses, indigent households, and deceased estates settle their outstanding municipal accounts. FF Plus’ Grandi Theunissen says residents and institutions’ total outstanding debt has risen to 18.3-billion-rand, with a 600-percent increase in new defaults:

# Tennis: World number two Carlos Alcaraz is through to the quarterfinals of the US Open. The Spaniard defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. Thirty-eight-year-old Novak Djokovic of Serbia eased past German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff,  6-3, 6-3, 6-2, to become the oldest man in history to reach all four major singles quarterfinals in one season. In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus advanced to her fifth straight US Open quarterfinal with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 20-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-550-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-473-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Western Cape schools and districts excelled at the National Education Excellence Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre. Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof won Top Performing Public Ordinary School in Quintile 5 for a second year, with Rhenish Girls’ High and Rustenburg Girls’ High in second and third; Vredendal Noord Primary and Bridgton Secondary for facilities; and Cape Winelands led in Maths, Physical Science, and Accounting. Education MEC David Maynier praised them for excellence:

Stay tuned for more news………….