News 09:00

BULLETIN 7 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# There is a fresh round of candidate nomination deadlines this week
# Germany’s far-right AfD wins a regional election
# And motorsport: Kimi Antonelli wins at home in Italy

# Political parties and independent candidates who received notices of non-compliance have until 5pm today to submit the outstanding documents. This may include a candidate’s ID copy or signed acceptance of nomination. On Wednesday, the Electoral Commission will issue notifications to nominated candidates who also appear as independents or as candidates on the list or on the list of other political parties. The IEC will compile and make available the final lists of those who have fully met the requirements for candidacy on 16 September. 

# Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has called on the South African Students Congress to help government defend the National Student Financial Aid Scheme from fraud, manipulation and opportunism. An investigation by the Special Investigating Unit found widespread fraud and improper payments in NSFAS’ student funding system. The department’s spokesperson, Matshepo Seedat, says every rand stolen through a ghost student, a fraudulent landlord or a dishonest service provider is a rand taken from a real working-class student:

# The South African Municipal Workers’ Union says that while it supports measures aimed at improving law enforcement, the City of Cape Town should first address the longstanding concerns of employees who are expected to carry additional responsibilities. Last month, the metro formally declared an intergovernmental dispute with Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia, following the government’s refusal to grant Metro Police officers investigative authority. SAMWU’s Hlalanathi Gagayi says it is concerning that employees are expected to perform higher-level duties without corresponding remuneration:

# Germany’s Alternative for Germany has secured a resounding victory in Saxony-Anhalt, placing it in power at the state level for the first time since World War Two. Preliminary results show the party won 44.4-percent of the vote. It has, however, fallen short of an absolute majority. The party of Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Union, only received 17-percent of the vote. AfD’s leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, says the people have made it absolutely clear that they finally want political change.

# Motorsport: Championship leader Kimi Antonelli delivered an inspired drive to win his home race, the Italian Grand Prix, after starting in 19th position following an engine penalty. The 20-year-old is the first Italian to win at Monza since 1966. His Mercedes teammate George Russell had to settle for second place, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completing the podium. Antonelli, who is now 66 points ahead of Russell in the Drivers’ Championship, says he is just focused on one race at a time:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-98-cents and the euro at 18-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-58-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-679-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-402-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….