News 12:00

BULLETIN 18 September 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau is surprised by American visa restrictions as he is set to meet with State Secretary Marco Rubio
# COSATU in Gauteng calls on men to take action against the ongoing killings of women in Ekurhuleni
# And rugby: The Springbok Women are looking to put on a solid performance against Wales in Cardiff tonight

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says the new visa restrictions the US announced against South Africa came as a surprise. The restrictions target individuals America accuses of promoting race-based discrimination, inciting violence, or enabling land confiscation without compensation. Tau says he will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio next week, emphasising government remains committed to engaging with Washington:

# Union federation COSATU has strongly condemned the recent spate of murders targeting women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, saying men need to take action. The bodies of nine women have been found dumped in various areas across, including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, and Kwa-Thema in Springs, over two months. COSATU’s provincial chairperson, Amos Monyela, says the burden of caution cannot solely be on women.

# The Security Personnel Party of South Africa is planning to lodge a complaint with the Electoral Commission for the misuse of public resources for party-political purposes. The party claims the ANC in Tshwane is planning to use the metro’s resources to campaign in ward 93 ahead of the November local government elections. The party’s spokesperson, Dimakatso Modipa, says municipal resources belong to Tshwane residents and must serve the public interest, not the electoral ambitions of any political party.

# Rugby: Springbok Women captain Babalwa Latsha says the execution of their game plan will be key in beating Wales in tonight’s first W-15 Global Series match in Cardiff Arms Park. The two nations have played against each other eight times, with Wales winning six times, including the 2014 World Cup. Latsha says they have a particular plan and a way they want to go about countering Wales’ expected kicking game:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-795-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-392-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the renamed Tutu Memorial Park in Milnerton is another way the metro is honouring the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah. The Lupin Crescent Park, where the couple lived for decades, is being transformed into a child-focused dog park, flower garden, and outdoor amphitheatre. Hill-Lewis says the park will be fully transformed within six months and will reflect Tutu’s lifelong work with children:

Stay tuned for more news………….