News 07:00

BULLETIN 5 Sepember 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing corruption in SAPS clarifies its list of witnesses
# The Institute of Race Relations says minister Meth should be ashamed over job losses
# And golf: SA’s Michael Hollick in the lead after the second round of the Sunbet Challenge

# Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption and political interference in the police service has moved to clarify confusion around the witness list. This follows reports that a summons has been issued for National Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya to appear before the committee next week. Committee chairperson, Molapi Lekganyane, says they have only approached potential witnesses to check availability and ensure they have access to legal counsel. He adds that a final decision on the list of witnesses will be made collectively by the full committee.

# The Constitutional Court has granted AfriForum permission to act as a friend of the court in a case regarding the powers and jurisdiction of the South African Human Rights Commission. In 2024, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the commission’s findings are not enforceable in themselves and can only be enforced by a court. AfriForum’s Louis Boshoff argues that the Constitution and legislation make it clear that the SAHRC does not have the power to make legally binding decisions, in step with international trends:

# The Institute of Race Relations says Employment and Labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth should be ashamed, not concerned, about job losses at companies like ArcelorMittal, Ford, and Goodyear. They blame long-standing ANC policies, including strict labour laws and minimum wage rules, for the rising unemployment. The institute’s Hermann Pretorius urged the government to scrap broad-based black economic empowerment quotas, stop further minimum wage hikes, and reform labour regulations.

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile will deliver a keynote address virtually at the National Economic Development Labour Council’s 30th Annual Summit in Sandton today. The summit seeks to focus on advancing solidarity, equality and sustainability in the economy and labour market. Business, labour, community, and government partners will also focus on worker solidarity, gender and race equality, and climate sustainability in line with South Africa’s G20 Presidency priorities.

# The man accused of killing two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC, earlier this year, has pleaded not guilty. Thirty-one-year-old Elias Rodriguez shot and killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in May. He is facing nine charges, including murder of a foreign official and perpetrating a hate crime resulting in death. In the indictment, prosecutors alleged that Rodriguez was motivated by hatred of Israel when he fatally shot the two.

# Golf: South Africa’s Michael Hollick carded a five-under-par 65 in the second round of the Sunbet Challenge, to take the lead by one stroke on nine under par at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club in Port Edward. South Africa’s Jacques de Villiers and England’s Joe Knox are both one shot behind the leader on eight under par. Hollick, who has already claimed two Sunshine Tour titles this year, says he is happy with his performance so far:

Stay tuned for more news………….

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-407-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-553-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-57-cents a barrel.