News 08:00

BULLETIN 1 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA welcomes the progress on a possible SA-US trade deal
# A 6.9 magnitude earthquake kills at least 26 people in the Philippines
# And tennis: Alcaraz withdraws from the Shanghai Masters due to an injury

# The DA has welcomed positive signals on a comprehensive SA-US trade deal and a possible one-year African Growth and Opportunity Act extension. President Cyril Ramaphosa dispatched a negotiating team to Washington last month to try to get the 30-percent tariffs on the country’s exports to the US lowered. The DA’s Toby Chance says they support efforts by the government of national unity and private sector players to reset relations with the country’s second biggest trading partner:

# Endeavor South Africa says a series of high-profile tech and fintech exits in South Africa is reigniting investor confidence. Over the past 18 months, companies like DocFox, Bank Zero, iKhokha, and Syft Analytics have been acquired for billions, with 21 African exits recorded in 2025 alone. Managing director Alison Collier says these deals prove liquidity is returning, unlocking fresh capital for scale-ups. She emphasised that the surge strengthens Africa’s venture ecosystem, enabling growth, job creation, and reinvestment into new startups.

# City Power has lodged an urgent court interdict against the Hawks following a search and seizure operation at its offices last week. The Hawks executed a search warrant at the entity’s offices in Booysens as part of an ongoing investigation into a 64-million-rand tender. The contracts were for the supply of electricity transformers in 2023, but were never delivered. City Power’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, says the raid was conducted unlawfully:

# At least 26 people have been killed and 147 others injured in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines. The earthquake struck off the coast of Cebu City. The intense shaking, which cut off power, caused buildings and house walls to collapse and triggered landslides. The region was already recovering from a storm that had battered the central region last Friday. The Philippines is frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults surrounding the ocean.

# Tennis: World number one Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters due to a left ankle injury. The 22-year-old Spaniard hurt his ankle in his opening match of the Japanese Open, but he pushed through the tournament to lift the trophy for his ATP Tour-leading eighth title of the season. France’s Corentin Moutet takes Alcaraz’s place in the Shanghai field. Alcaraz says he has opted to rest and recover ahead of the final phase of the season:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-27-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-492-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-863-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….