News 09:00

BULLETIN 18 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says the Constitutional Court ruling on the Public Procurement Act protects fiscal autonomy
# Civil Society Forum calls for practical measures to improve women’s safety
# And motorsport: A prominent South African racing driver is shot dead in Kempton Park

# The DA says the Constitutional Court judgment declaring the Public Procurement Act unconstitutional and invalid is a decisive victory for constitutional subsidiarity. The Western Cape Government and the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism had challenged Parliament’s process, including the treatment of Chapter 4, which deals with the use of public procurement to advance socioeconomic transformation. The DA’s Leon van Wyk says the ruling halts National Treasury’s attempt to enforce a centralised, one-size-fits-all supply chain framework over provincial and municipal spheres:

# 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 South African National AIDS Council Civil Society Forum has condemned the killing of nine women across Ekurhuleni, saying this highlights the grave and persistent crisis of gender-based violence and femicide in the country. Kempton Park is currently under lockdown, as investigations into these murders are ongoing. The forum’s spokesperson, Karabo Makgato, says they are calling for an urgent safety assessment of areas where women may be particularly vulnerable. He says the assessment should lead to practical measures that reduce risk and improve women’s safety:

# US president Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran wants to make a deal but is not yet prepared to accept the terms he considers necessary. One of the biggest issues is the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which a substantial share of global oil shipments normally passes. Disruptions at the Strait have kept pressure on global energy markets. Trump says he is facing a choice on whether or not to “annihilate” Iran, adding that anything could happen:

# Motorsport: Prominent South African racing driver Robert Wolk has died at the age of 41 after he was shot and killed in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. His career spanned almost three decades with success across karting, touring cars and other forms of circuit racing. His achievements include South African Junior GP Karting Championship titles in 1995 and 1997 and multiple Formula Ford championships. This year he won his second Simola Hillclimb King of the Hill title. Motorsport South Africa says Wolk’s passing leaves a profound void in the sport. 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-70-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-197-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-355-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….