News 08:00

BULLETIN 4 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kubayi appoints Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara as the acting head of IDAC
# The Competition Commission wants to probe township and rural malls
# And, JD Vance says the US won’t set a timeline for when the war with Iran will end

# Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has appointed Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara as the acting head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption until the position is filled. He takes over the reins following the resignation of Advocate Andrea Johnson. Vanara currently serves at the executive level as chief legal counsel of the Special Investigating Unit. The ministry says Vanara is an accomplished legal, governance and regulatory leader with more than 25 years of progressive experience across state institutions, state-owned enterprises, Parliament and other highly regulated environments.

# The Competition Commission is considering market-conduct investigations into malls and shopping centres in predominantly black urban communities and rural areas. In its Rural and Township Economy Project 2026 report, the commission found that many township entrepreneurs want to trade in malls but are blocked by high rentals, exclusivity clauses, and landlords favouring established brands. The township economy is estimated to be worth about 900-billion-rand annually. The commission’s chief economist James Hodge says exclusionary practices identified include unequal procurement conditions and discriminatory supply agreements:

# Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says that despite considerable progress, the province continues to experience demand for special school placement. Currently, 702 learners are awaiting placement in special schools. Of these, 419 are attending school, while 153 are out of school and receiving support through Resource Centres. A further 52 pupils are in Special Care Centres, while 140 are expected to enter special schools offering the Technical Occupational Curriculum in 2027. Maile says they remain committed to ensuring every child has access to education, regardless of disability.

# US deputy president JD Vance says they won’t set a timeline for the Iran war to end, suggesting instead it was up to Tehran to conclude the conflict that started six months ago. The two sides have returned to a cycle of back-and-forth strikes as Iran seeks to maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz. One US strike killed four people, including two children, at a wedding in a village near the Strait. Vance says there are no talks underway with the Iranians:

# Soccer: FIFA has accused European soccer body UEFA of launching a “smear campaign” against its president Gianni Infantino. UEFA has filed legal cases in three US courts requesting discovery of evidence connected to Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. It has accused Infantino of criminal mismanagement. In court filings, FIFA claims UEFA’s argument suffers from a fundamental defect and legal deficiencies. It says UEFA is acting out of self-interest to protect its own competitions.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-98-cents and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-62-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-817-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-474-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….