News 09:00

BULLETIN 8 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa wants progress towards peace and stability in South Sudan
# Solidarity wins its case against racial quotas for the legal profession
# And, a pastor’s wife is arrested for the murder of a four-month-old baby in Atteridgeville

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of fully adhering to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, as a means to advance the peace process. He met with South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is in South Africa on a working visit. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the meeting reaffirmed the significance of sustained regional engagement and collaboration in support of peace, stability and political progress in South Sudan, including electoral capacity support from the C5 countries:

# The High Court in Pretoria has set aside minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau’s decision to gazette the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Legal Sector Code. The code sets targets for black ownership and leadership of law firms, seeks to expand opportunities for black women, and aims to direct more work to black-owned law firms. The court has sent the matter to the minister for reconsideration. Solidarity Law Network’s Emil Glas says the ruling is a huge victory over the government’s reckless racial policy:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Health resolved not to receive the presentation on the National Health Laboratory Service annual report yesterday. This is after committee members unanimously raised concerns about the entity’s failure to submit audited financial statements, chronic non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and a collapse of governance and board oversight. NHLS’ 2025/2026 annual financial statements remain incomplete, unaudited and overdue. Committee chairperson Faith Muthambi says members have proposed a formal inquiry into the board to investigate the situation.

# Gauteng police have arrested a 24-year-old pastor’s wife in connection with the abduction and murder of a four-month-old baby and the alleged rape of the child’s mother in Atteridgeville, Tshwane. The mother and baby were allegedly lured to Hennops River by a pastor and his wife under the guise of a spiritual practice. Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi says it was then that the mother was allegedly raped and the infant kidnapped:

# Golf: Two-time major champion Jon Rahm is leaving LIV Golf, deeming the terms offered for the proposed relaunch of the breakaway series “unacceptable”. LIV is currently going through bankruptcy proceedings in the US after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its funding. The league has secured possible financing from BC Partners Credit. Rahm’s lawyer John Beck says they are working to finalise a separation agreement by October 15. The Spaniard is reportedly owed about 2.495-billion-rand by LIV Golf for the remainder of the contract he signed almost three years ago.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-615-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-136-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….