News 06:00

BULLETIN 7 October 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South Africans detained in Israel are set to be released and deported today
# The ANC reaffirms its commitment to broad-based black economic empowerment
# And cricket: The Proteas beat New Zealand to register their first win in the Women’s World Cup

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has confirmed that the group of South Africans, who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla and subsequently detained by Israeli authorities, will be released today. The group, including Mandla Mandela and writer and cultural activist Zukiswa Wanner, were detained last week while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The department’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says the group will be repatriated, departing via Jordan today:

# The ANC’s national executive committee has reaffirmed its commitment to broad-based black economic empowerment as a key tool to address past injustices and reduce current economic inequality. The party concluded its special NEC meeting in Boksburg, in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, yesterday. In his closing remarks, party president Cyril Ramaphosa stressed that transformation is a continuous process and central to advancing the national development plan:

Ramaphosa also says the party is intensifying its fight against corruption, warning that consequence management and lifestyle audits will be strictly enforced across the public sector. Ramaphosa said the Special Investigating Unit’s reports show that the government is serious about tackling corruption, and all findings will be acted upon:

# The Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator recorded a 13-percent increase in new complaints during the 2024/25 financial year, with ten-thousand-331 lodged and ten-thousand-100 resolved. Outgoing Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane says nonpayment of employer contributions accounted for 44-percent of cases. Lukhaimane says the two-pot withdrawal system brought 239 complaints due to arrears and delays. In addition, she says the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill will expand the definition of retirement fund to include public sector retirement funds.

# The International Criminal Court convicted a feared Sudanese militia chief for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during brutal attacks in Darfur. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by the pseudonym Ali Kushayb, was convicted of multiple crimes, including rape, murder, and torture carried out between August 2003 and at least April 2004. The sentence will be pronounced at a later date. The bespectacled Abd-Al-Rahman, wearing a blue suit and waistcoat with a scarlet tie, followed the proceedings impassively, occasionally taking notes.

# Cricket: South Africa defeated New Zealand by six wickets to record their first victory at the Women’s World Cup in Indore. Nonkululeko Mlaba claimed four wickets as the Proteas dismissed the White Ferns for 231. In reply, Tazmin Brits scored 101, becoming the first woman to score five ODI centuries in a year, and shared a 100-run partnership with Sune Luus, as South Africa cruised to their target with 55 balls to spare. The Proteas Women suffered a crushing defeat to England in their opening match last Friday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-15-cents and the euro at 20-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 124-thousand-972-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-962-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….