News 06:00

BULLETIN 13 September 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa defends Black Economic Empowerment and Employment Equity laws
# Taliep Petersen’s murderer will be released on parole on 27 November
# And rugby: Van der Berg replaces Williams in the Bok squad to face Argentina

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Black Economic Empowerment and Employment Equity laws will not be repealed. Addressing the National Council of Provinces, he stressed the importance of these laws for ensuring demographic and gender representation in leadership. He said that the laws drive equality, raise awareness, and promote inclusivity, which are crucial for South Africa’s transformative progress:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has also emphasised that infrastructure reforms should strengthen local government to serve South Africa’s interests. He highlighted that focused infrastructure development reform will reduce corruption and project abandonment. He stressed the need for financial expertise, proper skills, and accountability to ensure successful projects, including the development of smart cities:

# ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula says former Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan remains in critical condition in hospital. The 75-year-old retired politician was admitted to hospital earlier this week. Mbalula, who visited Gordhan yesterday, says the medical team is doing all necessary to give him the best care, and they remain hopeful for his recovery. Mbalula also slammed those who have been spreading fake news about Gordhan’s death:

# Beloved musical icon Taliep Petersen’s widow, Najwa Dirk, will be released on parole on the 27th of November after serving 18-years of her 28-year sentence for his murder in 2006. She was convicted of masterminding the murder and staging a robbery in 2009. Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, says 63-year-old Dirk has participated in various rehabilitation programmes and will now be enrolled in pre-release programmes.  He says Petersen’s family was involved in the parole-hearing process and had been informed of the Parole Board’s decision.

# The US has issued new sanctions on 16 officials aligned with Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. They are accused of obstructing the July presidential election, and of aiding the crackdown that followed a vote widely seen to have been stolen. The National Electoral Council has not published detailed voting tallies supporting a Maduro victory. Among those sanctioned are five judges from Venezuela’s Supreme Court, which upheld the council’s decision to award Maduro a third consecutive term in office.

# Rugby: Morné van den Berg has been called up as an injury replacement for Grant Williams for the Springboks’ penultimate Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Santiago next Saturday. Williams, who started at scrumhalf for the Boks against the All Blacks in Cape Town last weekend, was ruled out of the touring squad due to a knock to the arm. Van den Berg made his debut against Portugal in Bloemfontein and earned his first start in the green and gold against Australia in Perth last month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-76-cents and the euro at 19-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-90-dollars-90-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-556-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….