News 13:00

BULLETIN 5 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions condemns the jobs bloodbath
# A forum says Cyril Ramaphosa’s delaying tactics with the Madlanga Commission are in full swing
# And Rugby: The Boks are focused on the match against the All Blacks and not the history at Eden Park

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions says it is outraged at the escalating jobs bloodbath, devastating every sector of the country’s economy. ArcellorMittal SA is set to shut down its long steel business by the end of September, resulting in three-thousand-500 job losses. Ford Motor Company SA also plans to cut 474 jobs at its plants in Pretoria and Gqeberha. Saftu’s spokesperson, Asive Dyani, says the job losses are the product of neoliberal policies, austerity, and corporate greed:

# The Activists and Citizens Forum says the strategy of president Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into the allegations made a few months ago by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Ntlantla Mkhwanazi, is a delaying tactic to suppress the truth. Spokesperson, Dennis Bloem says the forum is neither surprised nor shocked with the sudden stumbling blocks that prevent the Commission from proceeding with its work:

# Diageo South Africa has welcomed the Department of Agriculture’s amended Liquor Product Act regulations, lowering the minimum Alcohol by Volume for spirits from 43-percent to 40-percent. Corporate Relations director Sibani Mngadi said the change reduces excise tax by about seven-rand per 750-millilitre bottle, easing costs for producers and consumers. Mngadi says the amendment aligns local regulations with international norms, boosts export opportunities, and allows producers more efficiency, while the taste and quality of products remain unchanged.

# Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Moscow’s army. This comes a day after Kyiv’s allies said they had committed to a troop presence in the event of a peace deal. Two dozen countries, led by France and Britain, pledged to join a “reassurance” force to patrol any agreement to end the conflict. Kyiv says security guarantees, backed by Western troops, are crucial to any agreement, in order to ensure Russia does not re-launch its offensive in the future.

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick brushed off the pressure of playing at Eden Park as they prepare mentally for the challenge that awaits them against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship tomorrow. He says they focus more on rugby statistics rather than history because that’s not where a game is won or lost. Only three players in the match-23 – Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Willie le Roux – had played at the stadium before, where the Boks last beat the All Blacks in 1937. Kick-off is at 9:05 SA time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-68-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 112-thousand-210-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-550-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….