News 08:00

BULLETIN 18 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau requests a review of South Africa’s trade policy on paper products
# South Africans are encouraged to wear black today
# And, UN experts find that the US committed war crimes in Iran

# Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau, has requested the International Trade Administration Commission to review South Africa’s trade policy on paper products. This follows calls from local manufacturers for higher tariffs on international paper products, as they struggle to compete with cheaper imports, high electricity and transport costs, and squeezed profit margins. Tau says if these challenges are not effectively addressed, the economy risks losing significant industrial investments, employment opportunities, and the economic sustainability of many rural communities that depend on the sector.

# The Department of Health says South Africa has recorded 18 laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases and one probable case between 14 August and 17 September. Fifteen cases have been recorded in Cape Town, three in Gauteng, and the one probable case is in KwaZulu-Natal. The affected individuals range in age from 23 to 50 years. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, has urged citizens to remain vigilant for Mpox symptoms:

# Survivors Unite is encouraging South Africans to wear black today in memory of the nine women killed across Ekurhuleni and all women affected by violence. The organisation says these murders are a painful reminder that women in the country are still living with the daily reality of violence. It says there needs to be a deeper conversation about women’s safety, accountability, and the urgent need to address the conditions that place women at risk. Survivors Unite says women need real protection, effective policing, and a justice system they can trust.

# A United Nations-commissioned panel of human rights experts have found reasonable grounds that the US committed war crimes with two strikes in Iran that killed at least 178 civilians. A new report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran stated that February’s missile strikes on a primary school in Minab and a sports complex in Lamerd constituted indiscriminate attacks causing civilian deaths or damage to civilian infrastructure. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says the findings are concerning:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has named his final 30-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea in Johannesburg and Eritrea in Egypt this month. The squad features a strong contingent from Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, alongside several foreign-based players plying their trade across Europe and the US. Themba Zwane, Cassius Mailula, Luther Singh and Shandre Campbell are among those recalled to the Bafana set-up. Mosimane admits selecting the squad was difficult:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-70-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-401-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-342-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….