News 11:00

BULLETIN 16 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is convinced the government of national unity is essential for the country
# Catastrophic floods across central and eastern Europe leave seven dead
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus is expecting a stern test against Argentina

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is even more convinced that the government of national unity is essential for the growth and development of the country. He met with the leaders that form the coalition government last week. In his weekly newsletter, the president says ministers and deputy ministers are making headway in confronting the challenges the country faces. Ramaphosa says they recognise that the parties in government represent a range of political and ideological perspectives, and differences between the parties will become more apparent at times.

# MK Party head of Presidency, Magasela Mzobe, says the immediate task of building and strengthening its structures is progressing well. Former president Jacob Zuma’s party stormed onto the political stage in the May general elections, winning just over 4.5-million votes to become the third-biggest party in the National Assembly. Speaking to the SABC, Mzobe says they had no luxury to build the party gradually following its performance in the elections:

# At least seven people have drowned in Austria, Poland, and Romania, as the heaviest rain in years has hit central and eastern Europe, causing flooding. About four people are missing in the Czech Republic, as 80-per-cent of the Silesian town of Krnov is underwater. Red alerts, the highest level of warning, have been issued for portions of Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovakia. The European Union has offered to assist countries dealing with the downpours.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he is expecting a stern test against Argentina in their Rugby Championship clash in Santiago del Estero on Saturday. The Boks can seal their first Championship title since 2019 by beating Los Pumas, the only other team in the running for the title. The Springboks are the only unbeaten team in the competition. Erasmus says not much separates the two teams, but it will come down to preparation and who pitches up the best on the day:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-747-dollars-76-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-584-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

# And finally, minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, says a book of condolence for former Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan will be available this week. He passed away in hospital last Friday. The ministry’s spokesperson, Litha Mpondwana, says the book will be at the office of the Department of Public Enterprises in Pretoria until Gordhan’s funeral on Thursday:

Stay tuned for more news………….