News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The commissioner of the Revenue Service says South Africa’s tax system remains stable and resilient
# The US Supreme Court blocks Donald Trump’s restrictions on mail ballots
# And athletics: World Athletics stands firm on its Russia and Belarus ban

# South African Revenue Service commissioner doctor Johnstone Makhubu says the country’s fiscal future depends on a trusted tax administration supported by capable people, intelligent systems, sustainable investment, and strong partnerships. Speaking at the Tax Indaba in Johannesburg yesterday, he maintained that South Africa’s tax system is fundamentally sound and the system remains resilient. Makhubu emphasised that the future success of the tax system depends on key priorities, including securing sustainable funding and accelerating modernisation:

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions says the country continues to record among the highest levels of violence against women in the world, yet too many perpetrators continue to believe that they can act with impunity. This comes as investigators continue probing the deaths of five women whose bodies were discovered in and around Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni. SAFTU’s spokesperson Asive Dyani says gender-based violence and femicide are not isolated criminal incidents but symptoms of a much deeper social crisis:

# The South African National Taxi Council in the Western Cape is urging the public not to speculate on the cause of the deadly accident on the N1 or apportion blame before the facts have been established. Twenty-one people died after two minibus taxis and a station wagon collided between Prince Albert Way and Leeu-Gamka. SANTACO provincial chairperson, Besuthu Ndungane, says this tragedy is a painful reminder that every journey carries a responsibility to protect life:

# The US Supreme Court has rejected president Donald Trump’s plan to restrict mail ballots to verified eligible voters for the November midterm elections. In an executive order he signed in March, Trump argued the change would help combat electoral fraud. In the ruling, Justice Brett Kavanaugh says applying the rule in the midterms would be arbitrary because state and local election officials do not have sufficient time to reasonably implement the rule before the elections. About 30-percent of voters cast their ballots by mail in the 2024 general election.

# Athletics: World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says the governing body will not change its position on Russia and Belarus. In July, World Athletics announced it would keep in place a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes imposed in March 2022, preventing them from competing in international competitions. Russian Athletics last month filed a fresh appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport challenging sanctions imposed by World Athletics. Coe says they do recognise the importance of ultimately restoring full global participation in the sport.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-28-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-782-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-312-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….