News 13:00

BULLETIN 22 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Johannesburg’s city manager is at risk of arrest over an unresolved water billing dispute
# Sabric calls for collaboration to combat the evolving cybercrime threats
# And rugby: Another red card for the Bulls is rescinded

# Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink faces potential arrest for failing to comply with a court order interdicting the metro from disconnecting services to Pibir Investments. The business initiated a warrant against Brink in April. Despite court mandates to correct billing issues and refrain from disconnecting services, the metro has not fully adhered to it. According to News24, as the city manager, Brink is ultimately responsible for any failings of the metro, even though he has not personally committed the offence.

# The South African Banking Risk Information Centre has called for enhanced collaboration between banks, law enforcement, and regulators to address the rising threat of cybercrime. Its 2023 report revealed a 47-percent increase in digital banking fraud, with criminals exploiting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence. Sabric’s CEO, Nischal Mewalall, says despite some positive trends, evolving cybercrime tactics require ongoing innovation and collective efforts to protect the financial system: 

# Agriculture organisation TLU SA says it strongly opposes the way government is handling transformation in the agricultural sector. The Department of Agriculture recently promulgated Black Economic Empowerment criteria for reduced-duty imports and exports, as well as plans to make BEE compulsory. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the role of a stable agricultural sector in the country is too important to be subordinated to any political agenda:

# Rugby: The Bulls had a red card rescinded for the second week in a row. Italian referee Federico Vedovelli sent Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar off for a dangerous tackle during the Pretoria team’s 22-23 loss to Scarlets in Wales on Friday, but a United Rugby Championship disciplinary committee changed it to yellow. This followed David Kriel’s red card being rescinded after he was penalised in the match against Ospreys the previous weekend. The Bulls take on Benetton in Treviso this coming weekend in the third match on tour.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-966-dollars-48-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-735-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Africa’s biggest boating exhibition, Boatica Cape Town, returns to the V&A Waterfront this weekend. This year’s event will feature globally sought-after South African-made boats, the latest boating gear, water sports equipment, and cutting-edge marine technology. Mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says Boatica is a highlight for the industry because it is a display of the breadth and variety of innovation, talent and skill of boat-builders:

Stay tuned for more news………….