News 09:00

BULLETIN 22 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Business Leadership South Africa says the Public Service Commission needs a bigger budget
# The police commissioner welcomes the arrest of a senior officer on sexual charges
# And, over seven-thousand flights are cancelled or delayed in the US

# Business Leadership South Africa says the signing of the Public Service Commission Act into law last week represents a significant overhaul of the rules governing the country’s civil service. The Act broadens the scope of the Public Service Commission’s work to include municipalities, allowing it to address the governance failures that lead to poor service delivery, corruption and questionable appointments. BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says the legislation does not mean effectiveness, as the PSC cannot fulfil its vastly expanded mandate on its current budget.

# Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane has welcomed the arrest of a 59-year-old senior police officer on charges relating to sexual offences. He was arrested in Sandton yesterday evening. The senior officer faces charges relating to the alleged sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026, as well as the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman. National Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the fight against gender-based violence and femicide must begin with accountability within the ranks of the police:

# The Buffalo City Municipality has welcomed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to authorise the Special Investigating Unit to probe historical projects linked to the municipality and the Buffalo City Metro Development Agency. The investigation will focus on six tenders involving the construction of swimming pools, the demolition of walls and water projects. The municipality’s spokesperson, Luzuko Buku, says their own investigation has resulted in some officials being charged or suspended:

# More than seven-thousand flights were cancelled or delayed and over 100 diverted across the US yesterday, after a construction crew accidentally cut a cable needed for air traffic control in Philadelphia. The Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania were the most affected. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says this incident underscores the need for additional funding to modernise ageing infrastructure and prevent disruptions like this in the future:

# Motorsport: The FIA’s Formula One Commission has decided to shorten Grand Prix races next year, in line with power unit regulations to be introduced on fuel flow. Race distances will be reduced from 305 kilometres to 290 kilometres, a reduction of two to three laps depending on the circuit. The commission has also changed the rules on the fixed three-hour limitation of races impacted by rain interruptions, allowing greater flexibility to complete disrupted races. After a week off, F1 is back with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-74-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-529-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-336-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….