News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says government obstacles must be fixed to save jobs in the steel and auto sectors
# South Africa’s auto market accelerates with a 19-percent sales jump
# And rugby: Erasmus says Ntlabakanye’s omission from the Bok group was not about punishment but protection

# The DA says government inaction has resulted in thousands of South Africans losing their jobs in the steel and auto industries. This comes as ArcelorMittal South Africa will be cutting three-thousand-500 direct jobs, while at the same time, Ford, Goodyear, and Mercedes are also cutting hundreds more jobs. The DA’s Toby Chance says industries cannot compete because of government-created obstacles such as red tape, sky-high electricity prices, failing rail and ports, and endless delays in policy reform:

# The National Employers’ Association of South Africa and Sakeliga say they will launch a multi-pronged fight against the new racial and gender quotas by appealing directly to the Constitutional Court. This after the High Court in Pretoria dismissed their urgent bid to halt the new employment equity regulations, set to start this month. NEASA CEO Gerhard Papenfus argues the quotas are unconstitutional, harmful to business, and impossible to meet:

# The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers says August saw the strongest domestic new vehicle sales since October 2019. Sales rose nearly 19-percent year-on-year to over 51-thousand units. Passenger cars topped 36-thousand units, while exports also climbed over six-percent despite global tariff challenges. Toyota led sales, followed by Suzuki and Volkswagen. Naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa says cheaper models, rising consumer confidence, and easier access to credit drove the growth. Mabasa is cautiously optimistic but warns rising interest rates and economic pressures may slow sales.

# Accused number four in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Mthokoziseni Maphisa, will find out today if the charges against him will be dropped. This is after he applied for a Section 174 discharge under the Criminal Procedure Act. Maphisa has argued that the State has failed to link him to the alleged plot to kill the Bafana Bafana captain. Meyiwa was shot dead at his girlfriend’s home, Kelly Khumalo, in Vosloorus, Gauteng, in 2014. The four other accused in the trial have withdrawn their own discharge applications.

# A plane carrying European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was targeted by GPS navigation jamming while trying to land in Bulgaria on Sunday. She landed safely. The Bulgarian authorities suspect that Russia was behind this. Von der Leyen has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine as Kyiv tries to defend itself against Moscow’s unprovoked aggression. The commission’s deputy spokesperson, Arianna Podestà, says threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia’s hostile actions:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the decision not to include Asenathi Ntlabakanye in the squad for the two-Test tour of New Zealand was to protect him. The 26-year-old tested positive for a banned non-performance substance, which SA Rugby confirmed he was prescribed by a sports doctor to address a health issue. Erasmus says if Asenathi were on tour, many questions would’ve been directed at him, and that could’ve taken away his focus for the game ahead.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 20-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-190-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-494-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….