News 11:00

BULLETIN 21 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says it is not surprised Zille is the DA’s Joburg mayoral candidate
# Kgosientso Ramokgopa says the NECSA board will be replaced within three weeks
# And Keir Starmer is set to announce British recognition of a Palestinian state

# ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says Helen Zille’s appointment as the DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate was expected. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Mashaba welcomed her and any South African contesting municipal leadership, emphasising it is the DA’s choice. Mashaba added that Johannesburg will judge her performance, drawing comparisons to her tenure in Cape Town, where she achieved notable success, highlighting the challenges ahead in Johannesburg:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says a new board will be appointed at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation within three weeks. The current board has been inquorate following several resignations linked to disputes over salary increases and governance issues. Ramokgopa told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy that potential candidates have already been shortlisted, with Cabinet approval expected soon.

# A farm owner in Chrissiesmeer, Mpumalanga, survived a violent attack after being stabbed in the neck while inspecting his property early Friday. Police say the victim managed to shoot one attacker in self-defence, while another fled. The injured suspect, a 46-year-old Malawian national, was arrested on charges of attempted murder, stock theft, and immigration violations. He remains under police guard in the hospital. Authorities are tracking down the second suspect, who is already facing pending cases.

# The Ophthalmological Society of South Africa has warned that people with Type 2 Diabetes face double the risk of developing cataracts, the leading cause of preventable blindness. Eyecare Awareness Month started on Saturday until 17 October, with its Right to Sight Trust set to perform over one-thousand free surgeries nationwide. Doctor Mpopi Lenake says cataracts are treatable, but delays, limited specialists, and low awareness still cause unnecessary vision loss in South Africans:

# British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement later today. The prime minister said in July that the UK would shift its position in September unless Israel met conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and committing to a long-term sustainable peace deal that delivers a two-state solution. The move has drawn fierce criticism from the Israeli government, hostage families, and some Conservatives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said such a move “rewards terror”. Portugal, France, Canada and Australia have also said they will recognise a Palestinian state, while Spain, Ireland and Norway took the step last year.

# And Olympics: International Olympic Committee president Kirstie Coventry says the Olympic Games unite the world and promote peaceful competition. This comes amid calls to sanction Israel and Russia ahead of the Winter Olympics in Italy. Russian athletes remain barred from competing under their national flag, while Israeli athletes face no restrictions. She stressed the IOC’s commitment to its values:

Stay tuned for more news………….