News 07:00

BULLETIN 8 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says the chaos at the ad hoc committee damages Parliament’s credibility
# Donald Trump says a peace deal in Gaza is very close
# And rugby: South Africa will ban players who join the breakaway R360 competition

# The DA says the mismanagement of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc committee investigating police corruption undermines not only its mandate but also public confidence in Parliament as an institution. The committee began its work yesterday, but was hampered by delays and administrative confusion. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will continue his testimony today. The DA’s Ian Cameron says they don’t support calls for the removal of evidence, leader advocate Norman Arendse:

# The Departments of Basic Education, Employment and Labour, and the Industrial Development Corporation will announce today the resolution to pending payments to Education Assistants and General School Assistants under the Basic Education Employment Initiative in Pretoria. Spokesperson Terence Khala says the government has found a way forward to release the outstanding stipends. He says the move is expected to bring relief to the assistants who have been waiting for their money:

# The National Union of Mineworkers, representing 15-thousand Eskom employees, is demanding a wage increase of up to 15-percent, more than four times inflation, ahead of upcoming negotiations. The call follows Eskom’s first profit in eight years and stabilisation of the power grid. NUM opposes Eskom’s plan to decentralise union recognition across unbundled entities, warning it could weaken collective bargaining. Current wage agreements expire in June 2026.

# City Power has confirmed that the High Court in Johannesburg has postponed the urgent hearing against the Hawks over the alleged unlawful execution of a search warrant issued on 17 September. The matter, initially set for today, will now be heard on Friday after the Hawks requested more time to file their responding affidavit. City Power says the delay is concerning, noting it seeks an interdict to ensure lawful and fair investigative procedures.

# US president Donald Trump says he is optimistic about the progress made towards a Gaza peace deal. Negotiations to finalise a deal based on Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan are continuing in Egypt. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner are expected to join the negotiations today to help work out the logistical details around a ceasefire and hostage release. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he believes an agreement is very close to being reached:

# Rugby: National rugby unions of South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Italy, and Australia have warned that any players who join the breakaway R360 competition will be banned from playing for their countries. R360 plans to launch a shortened competition in October 2026, with players reportedly being offered lucrative contracts to make the switch. The national rugby unions say R360 has given no indication as to how it plans to manage player welfare, and how the competition would coexist with the international and domestic calendars.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-22-cents and the euro at 20-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-10-cents and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-719-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-988-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….