News 11:00

BULLETIN 26 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa offers South Africa as a venue for future peace talks between Zelensky and Putin
# SASSA announces a social grant increase from October
# And, SANParks confirms localised anthrax cases in the Kruger National Park

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has offered South Africa as a venue for any future peace talks between Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. The president says South Africa is uniquely placed to engage Putin, Zelensky and US president Donald Trump to bring them together for a trilateral meeting:

# The South African Social Security Agency has confirmed that all social grant amounts will increase by ten-rand from the October 2025 payment cycle. This follows Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget announcement earlier this year. Old Age, Disability, Care Dependency, and War Veterans grants will all see slight increases. SASSA spokesperson Andile Tshona says the adjustment is vital to ease financial pressures and protect vulnerable groups:

# US president Donald Trump says he told prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. In July, Israeli lawmakers voted 71-to-13 in favour of a non-binding motion calling for the annexation of the West Bank. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank have been ongoing since 1967, stretching deep into Palestinian territory. Trump, who will meet Netanyahu on Monday, says they are getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza, and maybe even peace.

# Rugby: Springbok prop Boan Venter, who was initially named among the replacements, will start the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Durban tomorrow. This follows the withdrawal of Ox Nche from the team due to a niggle. Jan-Hendrik Wessels will serve as the back-up prop, with Marco van Staden providing hooker cover off the bench. Just two points separate the table-topping Australia from last-placed Argentina with two rounds remaining.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-41-cents and the euro at 20-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-474-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-740-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the South African National Parks have confirmed the occurrence of localised anthrax cases in the Kruger National Park. Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which is found in soil and can infect livestock and wild animals. SANParks spokesperson Rey Thakhuli says the cases are consistent with the disease’s natural cycle in the park. He adds that the outbreak is expected to subside with the first rains, which is typical for anthrax cycles:

Stay tuned for more news………….