News 07:00

BULLETIN 7 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ambassador Bozell says South Africa is undermining its own economic prospects
# A Mandrax manufacturing laboratory is discovered in North West
#And cricket: Kagiso Rabada will get enough time to prove his fitness before the first Test

# US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell says there are billions of dollars in potential American investment and thousands of potential jobs, but South African policies continue to stand in the way. His latest remarks mark a fresh escalation in increasingly strained relations between Washington and Pretoria. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Bozell warned that the country is moving closer to US adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran. He says race-based requirements are discouraging investment:

# The South African Petroleum Retailers Association warns that this month’s fuel price increases will put further pressure on households and businesses. Petrol has risen by more than three-rand a litre, while diesel and illuminating paraffin have also increased sharply. SAPRA’s Vishal Premlall says the higher costs will affect food prices, transport and deliveries, and could worsen inflation. Premlall also warned that high fuel prices could encourage the sale of illegal and poor-quality fuel:

# Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela says sustainable financing and reliable administration must advance together, with funding policy supported by functioning decisions, appeals, accommodation, and allowance payment systems. This comes as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme prepares for the next academic year. Manamela says they must identify risks early and resolve them before students carry the cost. Manamela has called for clearer reporting on irregular expenditure, saying a declining register alone does not prove money was recovered or that non-compliance was prevented.

# North West police have arrested three South Africans and a Zimbabwean national following the discovery of a multimillion-rand Mandrax manufacturing laboratory at a plot in the Hartbeespoort Dam area yesterday. Police received information regarding suspected illegal activities at the property. Provincial Police Commissioner Arthur Adams says upon arrival at the identified address, Brits Crime Intelligence and Hartbeespoortdam K9 found the four suspects. He says they also discovered four firearms, a drug-production mixture, and equipment believed to have been used to manufacture drugs:

# UK Counter Terror Police have arrested a 22-year-old British man on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts over the RAF Fairford plot last month. Five men were arrested on 27 September near the base on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act, but were subsequently released on bail. A sixth man, a dual Iranian-British national, was arrested last week and was also released on bail. Counter Terrorism Police say this remains a live investigation and they remain committed to probing all possible angles.

# Cricket: Leading Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will be given all the time he needs to prove his fitness for the first Test against Australia, starting in Durban on Friday. An injury kept him out of the one-day series between the two countries, but he finished an intra-squad two-day game without problems. Assistant coach Ashwell Prince says the 31-year-old bowled well and will continue to be involved in training. The second Test starts in Gqeberha on the 18th and the final one in Cape Town on the 27th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-55-cents and the euro at 18-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-219-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-148-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….