News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 September 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party’s court challenge over the election results system is dismissed
# Social Development warns of risks facing children during the holidays
# And Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front are in a full-scale war

# The Electoral Commission welcomes the Electoral Court’s decision to dismiss the MK Party’s challenge over the integrity of the election results system. The party challenged the 2024 election results system and sought to have the elections declared not free and fair. The IEC will now finalise an independent audit, while political parties can test the system with their experts from 5 to 12 October before the 4 November local government elections.

# Social Development minister Dina Pule has urged parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and protect children during the school holidays. Pule warns that children may be vulnerable to abuse, abduction, sexual assault and human trafficking, particularly when travelling or left unsupervised. Ministry spokesperson, Sandy Godlwana, says parents should always know their children’s whereabouts and ensure they are not left exposed to unsafe situations:

# Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku says Golden Arrow Bus Services’ targeted fare adjustment will help limit the impact on commuters, particularly those already facing rising living costs. From Monday, selected off-peak cash fares will increase by an average of 4.5-percent, while gold card multi-journey fares and most peak cash fares will remain unchanged. Sileku added keeping some fares unchanged will help protect commuters who rely on public transport every day:

#A full-scale war has erupted in Ethiopia as seven rebel groups form a massive coalition to overthrow the federal government. Spearheaded by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the alliance now includes Amhara’s Fano militia and the Oromo Liberation Army. Rebel forces have seized three strategic airports in Tigray, forcing Ethiopian Airlines to suspend all regional flights. Fierce ground fighting and air strikes are spreading into neighbouring Afar and Amhara, displacing thousands and cutting off critical trade routes.

And now for some sports news:

# Rugby: Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies is eager to make the best of his Springboks’ return after an extended absence from the national team. He was part of the 2019 World Cup champion team, but virtually disappeared since because of injury and fierce competition, playing only one Test in the past three years. Thirty-year-old Jantjies will be experienced flyhalf Handré Pollard’s halfback partner in tomorrow’s Test against the Wallabies in Perth. He says the fire again burns in him, describing the competition among the scrumhalves in the squad as amazing.

# And finally, Cricket: The Proteas can seal the three-match one-day series against Australia in tomorrow’s second encounter in Johannesburg after a convincing victory in the first game in Durban. The centurion from Kingsmead, Matthew Breetzke, says the team showed character despite missing four injured fast bowlers. Spinner Keshav Maharaj then showed his class, taking four wickets. Tomorrow’s match at the Wanderers will be the annual Pink Day event in support of breast cancer awareness. The final ODI will be played in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

Stay tuned for more news………….