News 17:00

BULLETIN 3 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum and Saai seek international sanctions against Julius Malema
# The DA probes a racist video from a Stellenbosch municipal official
# And SA Rugby becomes a shareholder in the United Rugby Championship

# AfriForum and the Southern African Agri Initiative, Saai, announced plans to fight the ‘Kill the Boer’ chant internationally, calling for targeted sanctions against EFF leader Julius Malema. They launched the Malema Dossier, detailing allegations of hate speech, corruption, and support for terrorism. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl says they will present the dossier in the US and Europe. He cites the Constitutional Court’s failure to hold Malema accountable:

# The DA is concerned about a video allegedly showing a Stellenbosch Municipality official expressing racist views and promoting unlawful labour practices. The DA’s Karabo Khakhau says such comments contradict its values of non-racialism and fairness. Khakhau says the DA does not engage in cadre deployment, and expects a competent, independent civil service. She insists that appointments must be based on merit, competence, and constitutional values, not race or political affiliation:

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says the provincial government has confirmed plans to expand the Gautrain to Roodepoort, Soweto, Fourways, and Mamelodi in Tshwane. The project aims to improve public transport and integrate the provincial transport network, offering better connectivity and services for commuters across the province. Lesufi told the media the preferred bidder for the expansion will be announced soon:

Moving abroad: 

# Britain announced new sanctions against Russian officials and youth organisations linked to what London calls Moscow’s policy to deport, indoctrinate and militarise Ukrainian children. Moscow has been accused by Western governments and activists of forcibly deporting Ukrainian children to Russian territory after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2023 over the abduction of Ukrainian children. The UK government says it would sanction eight individuals and three organisations affiliated with the Russian state.

On to sports news:

# The United Rugby Championship has confirmed that SA Rugby has become the league’s sixth shareholder, joining the Irish, Italian, Scottish, and Welsh unions, along with CVC Capital Partners. SA Rugby’s relationship with the competition dates back to 2018 when the Cheetahs and Southern Kings joined the PRO14. SA Rugby’s CEO, Rian Oberholzer, called it a red letter day for South African rugby which marks the completion of a journey that began eight years ago when they first contemplated a northern hemisphere future.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 20-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-412-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-556-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….