News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC NEC meeting will deliberate on the state of local government and the SACP
# Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro is sentenced to more than 27 years in prison
# And rugby: The former Springbok fullback Bevin Fortuin has died at age 46

# The ANC will hold its Special National Executive Committee meeting in Ekurhuleni this weekend. The party’s highest decision-making body will discuss the state of local government and the dual membership of ANC and South African Communist Party members, amongst other things. This follows the SACP’s decision to contest next year’s local government elections independently. The ANC says the two-day NEC will culminate in a roll call meeting on Monday, where councillors will account for their work since the 2021 local government elections.

# Deputy minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, says since its inception in 2020, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative has exceeded its target of reaching five-million young people. The initiative promotes active citizenship by engaging young people in structured service opportunities that contribute to their communities while building their skills, work readiness, and sense of agency. Mhlauli says the NYS has placed more than 84-thousand young people in paid service roles:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed the Western Cape High Court’s order declaring the police raid on the offices of two mayoral committee members as unlawful and unconstitutional. In January, 39 police officers descended on JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg’s offices, following the analysis of three black books linked to alleged gang boss Ralph Stanfield. Hill-Lewis says the raid was clearly conducted on spurious grounds:

# Brazil’s former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison. This is after a panel of five Supreme Court justices found him guilty of attempting to overturn the country’s 2022 election through a military coup. Bolsonaro was also convicted of taking part in an armed criminal organisation, attempting to abolish Brazil’s democratic order by force, committing violent acts against state institutions, and damaging protected public property. The 70-year-old has also been barred from running for public office until 2033.

# Rugby: Former Springbok fullback and Northam Rhinos head coach Bevin Fortuin has passed away at the age of 46. He reportedly suffered a suspected heart attack shortly before a scheduled practice session. Fortuin played twice for the Springboks, making his Test debut against Ireland in 2006 and playing against Australia in the 2007 Tri-Nations. At club level, he played for SWD Eagles and the Cheetahs. Northam Rhinos says Bevin’s immense contributions, both on and off the field, leave an immeasurable legacy.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-35-cents and the euro at 20-rand-35-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-52-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-243-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-651-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….