News 11:00

BULLETIN 25 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is optimistic for a beneficial trade deal with the US
# The Patriotic Alliance leader, Gayton McKenzie, threatens to pull out of the government of national unity
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus says they won’t underestimate Argentina

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is optimistic that South Africa will reach a beneficial trade deal with America. US president Donald Trump imposed a 30-percent tariff on South African exports last month, after Pretoria failed to reach a trade deal with Washington before the first August deadline. Government has since offered a proposal for a trade agreement. Addressing the South Africa-USA Trade and Investment Executive Dialogue in New York, Ramaphosa says negotiations with the US are progressing well:

# Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has threatened to withdraw his party from the government of national unity, including from the ANC-run coalition government in the City of Johannesburg. This is over Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero’s failure to immediately reinstate Kenny Kunene as mayoral committee member for Transport. The PA deputy leader was cleared of any wrongdoing linked to the murder accused Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe. On a Facebook live, McKenzie says Morero has until Monday to reinstate Kunene:

# The Madlanga Commission is today set to hear testimony from an official of the South African Police Service legal division, on the legislative framework governing SAPS. The official will be the third witness following the appearances of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkwanazi, and National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola. The testimonies heard by the commission so far have linked Police minister Senzo Mchunu, who is on special leave, to alleged criminal cartel member Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, and accused him of unlawfully disbanding the KZN Political Killings Task Team.

# Billionaire Elon Musk’s father, Errol Musk, has been accused of three decades of sexual abuse against at least five of his children and stepchildren. According to a New York Times investigation, the allegations, dating back to 1993 in South Africa and California, include abuse of victims as young as four. Despite multiple police probes, no charges were filed. The 79-year-old denies the claims, calling them false.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says they won’t underestimate the dangerous Argentina ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash in Durban. The Boks have won ten of their last 12 matches against the Pumas, dating back to 2018, with their only two defeats being in Argentina last season and in 2018. Erasmus says the Los Pumas pose threats all around, including boasting a strong forward pack and extremely talented backs:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-35-cents and the euro at 20-rand-38-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-585-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-743-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….