News 06:00

BULLETIN 3 September 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says Eskom leads in empowering women in the workplace
# The Tshwane mayor says his priority is to maintain the current coalition
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus will name his squad for the Cape Town Test on Thursday

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Eskom is leading the way in empowering women in the workplace. In his weekly newsletter, he highlighted the utility’s success in increasing female representation, with women now holding 43-percent of senior management roles and 20-percent of executive positions. Eskom’s women’s advancement programme launched ten years ago, has also significantly narrowed the gender pay gap and boosted procurement from black women-owned businesses. Ramaphosa called on other companies to follow Eskom’s lead by promoting gender equality, eliminating discrimination, and fostering more inclusive workplaces. 

# National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union has clarified the union’s position on the government of national unity and its relations with the ANC. Nehawu and the ANC have issued a joint statement to resolve tensions in KwaZulu-Natal. Nehawu president Mike Shingange says the union respects the democratic process but has reservations about the current political framework and government formation. Shingange has denied reports that some union leaders plan to join the MK Party:  

# Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink says he is not obsessed with keeping his job, however, the current coalition needs to be preserved to continue its good work. ActionSA has indicated it would be leaving the current governing coalition, and joining the ANC and EFF in ousting the mayor. The ANC temporarily withdrew its motion of no confidence against Brink last week, following a high court challenge by the mayor. Brink has reiterated that a coalition government consisting of the ANC and the EFF would be a terrible prospect for residents.

Meanwhile, the DA in Theewaterskloof has condemned a coalition formed by small opposition parties and the ANC to oust DA mayor Lincoln de Bruyn. DA’s Tertuis Simmers claims this followed the mayor’s efforts to halt the misuse of Disaster Management funds. He criticised the Freedom Front Plus for supporting the motion, calling it a contradiction of an agreement between party leaders:

# US president Joe Biden says Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal and a ceasefire with Hamas. He and vice-president Kamala Harris met with negotiators in the White House yesterday. This comes as hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across Israel expressing their anger at the government’s failure to secure a ceasefire deal. Reportedly, the US could walk away from leading the negotiations if Israel and Hamas fail to accept a final take it or leave it deal.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will only announce his squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Thursday, and not today as usual. Pundits are contemplating if this is a ploy to keep New Zealand guessing, or whether they are not sure over some selections. There is uncertainty over captain Siya Kolisi and winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, who were both injured during the first Test at Ellis Park. Scrum coach Daan Human says all the other players are fit.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-83-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-43-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-177-dollars-63-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-497-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….