News 08:00

BULLETIN 21 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government approves a comprehensive emergency strategy for the Ekurhuleni victims
# The DA requests an urgent Parliamentary debate on gender-based violence
# And the taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni returns to the Madlanga Commission

# The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has approved a comprehensive emergency strategy to speedily bring to justice the perpetrators behind the killing of nine women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Three persons of interest have been taken in for questioning, while police are still trying to establish whether all the murders are connected. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has urged people to be in constant contact with their female relatives in the metro:

Meanwhile the DA has written to National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, to request an urgent debate of national importance on the escalating gender-based violence and femicide crisis in Ekurhuleni. The DA’s Lisa Schickerling says that although the crisis of GBVF has long been on Parliament’s agenda, the deteriorating situation in Ekurhuleni demands urgent and specific attention:

# Mpumalanga taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni returns to the stand at the Madlanga Commission today. In his last appearance in August, he made several serious claims about the taxi industry, alleged criminal networks, and his own experiences. He alleged that some taxi associations use ‘bucket money’ to fund the hiring of hitmen to carry out assassinations. Sibanyoni is currently on bail with his three co-accused, facing extortion and money-laundering charges linked to allegations that more than 2.2-million-rand was taken from mining businessman Thomas Ntuli as alleged protection fees.

# US president Donald Trump says the only options on the table are to obliterate Iran, let it rot economically, or reach a deal. This follows reports that the US, with some of its allies in the Middle East, is preparing to resume actions against Tehran. Trump told Fox News that he is open to meeting Iranian president Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week. Meanwhile, Iran has warned that regional ​countries supporting ‌US aggression ⁠against Tehran would ⁠be considered parties ‌to ​the conflict.

# Golf: American JJ Spaun shot a final-round 67 to win the PGA Championship by two shots in his debut at the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth in England. Spain’s Manuel Elvira finished in a four-way tie for second with Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, Australian Adam Scott and Englishman Aaron Rai. Spaun, who was omitted from Brandt Snedeker’s Team USA Presidents Cup squad, says he had a point to prove:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-414-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-362-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….