News 09:00

BULLETIN 19 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party says the decision to keep the repo rate unchanged is a lost opportunity
# Cosatu is disappointed at the Reserve Bank holding the repo rate at 7-percent
# And Kamala Harris criticises the Trump administration’s assault on free speech

# The GOOD Party says the decision by the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to keep the repo rate unchanged at seven-percent is a lost opportunity for relief. The prime lending rate remains at 10.5-percent. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says with inflation dropping to 3.3-percent, below the mid-point of SARB’s target range of three to six, this should have been a moment to ease pressure on households:

Meanwhile, Cosatu says it is disappointed that the Reserve Bank failed to cut the repo rate, and provide relief for workers battling to cope with the rising costs of living. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says SARB needs to utilise its November MPC meeting to slash the repo rate by at least 50-basis points:

# The DA in Gauteng says the deepening water crisis in the Merafong City Municipality, as a result of water rationing by Rand Water, is persisting. The municipality owes Rand Water around 1.4-billion-rand. Since last year, Rand Water has been implementing water cuts as a debt collection mechanism for outstanding debts in several municipalities in Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga. The DA’s Carl Steenekamp says they will continue to pressure those in power to hold the municipality accountable:

# Former US vice president Kamala Harris has criticised president Donald Trump’s administration over its assault on free speech, saying this is an outright abuse of power. This follows the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from ABC over his comments about the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Harris says Trump’s administration is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who speaks out. She adds that media corporations, from television networks to newspapers, are capitulating to these threats.

# Soccer: Five-time winners Barcelona got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start, beating Newcastle United 2-1 at St James’ Park. Marcus Rashford scored two swift second-half goals, while Anthony Gordon pulled a goal back in the 90th minute for Newcastle, but Barcelona held on for the win. Erling Haaland notched his 50th goal in the competition as Manchester City defeated Napoli 2-0. Frankfurt thrashed Galatasaray 5-1, while Leverkusen had to come from behind twice to snatch a point in a 2-2 draw against Copenhagen.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-36-cents and the euro at 20-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-46-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-658-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….