News 07:00

BULLETIN 4 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Rise Mzansi calls for strengthened crime intelligence to tackle the extortion crisis
# AfriForum launches a campaign to block an EFF-ANC coalition in Tshwane
# And the Refugee Council is calling for Britain to open more safe routes for asylum seekers

# Rise Mzansi says tackling the extortion pandemic requires a functional crime intelligence unit. The party argues extortion gangs are terrorising communities, targeting small businesses, schools, and vulnerable individuals across urban and rural areas. In his Parliamentary debate, Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana urges collaboration between crime intelligence, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the Hawks to build strong cases against extortionists and restore safety in communities:

# COPE calls on former Passenger Rail Association of South Africa CEO, Lucky Montana, to be held accountable for his dereliction of duty and loss of state resources. This comes after the former head of engineering at Prasa, Daniel Mthimkhulu, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years for falsifying his qualifications and other documents. COPE says instead of executing his fiduciary responsibilities by ensuring due diligence and protecting the integrity of the institution, Montana shamefully and arrogantly protected fraudster Mthimkhulu.

# COSATU welcomes a 0.4-percent rise in gross domestic product for the second quarter of 2024, a slight improvement after a projected contraction. The federation credits stable power supply and falling fuel prices for boosting optimism. It has however warned that the economy remains fragile. The union has called on government to accelerate Eskom maintenance, modernise infrastructure, and expand employment programmes. Cosatu urges an end to austerity and more investment in state capacity and economic growth initiatives.

# AfriForum has launched a campaign to prevent an EFF-ANC coalition from taking control of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. The initiative follows ActionSA’s consideration of joining forces with the ANC and EFF to oust DA-led mayor Cilliers Brink. AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl urges the public to sign a petition aiming to maintain stability in the Metro’s current coalition:

# The UK Refugee Council calls on the British government to open more safe routes for asylum seekers to enter the country. This comes after at least 12 people died after a boat carrying migrants capsised off the French coast in the English Channel yesterday. More than 60 people were rescued. This is the deadliest disaster in the Channel this year. The council says people risk their lives out of desperation, fleeing violence and persecution, therefore effective and humane pathways for those seeking refuge must be created to reduce tragedies.

# Cricket: Brendon McCullum has been appointed as England’s white-ball head coach starting in January next year in addition to his role as Test coach. He will replace Australian Matthew Mott, who stepped down after the T20 World Cup. Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim head coach of the white-ball team for their upcoming series against Australia and in the Caribbean later this year. McCullum has also extended his contract until the end of 2027.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 56-thousand-623-dollars-68-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-493-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-26-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….