News 13:00

BULLETIN 15 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Former president Thabo Mbeki says a lack of credibility led to foundations’ withdrawal from the national dialogue
# ActionSA says the Defence minister and her deputies spent over 20-million-rand on travel alone since taking office
# And rugby: The Springboks are back on top of the world rankings

# Former president Thabo Mbeki has revealed why several foundations, including his own, pulled out of the National Dialogue. Speaking at UNISA, Mbeki called on his foundation’s CEO, Max Boqwana, to explain the exit. Boqwana cited rushed planning, lack of credibility, and attempts to politicise the process. He warned that funders’ money was being squandered. Boqwana stressed the withdrawal was to protect credibility, vowing to resuscitate a genuine National Dialogue:

# ActionSA has revealed that the Ministry of Defence under minister Angie Motshekga and her deputies have blown a staggering 20-million-rand on travel alone since taking office. The party says they were jetting off to destinations like Vietnam, Cuba, Malaysia, Japan, and Turkey with no discernible justification or benefit to match the cost. ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni says among the most shocking excesses are 4.9-million-rand blown on car hire, 5.5-million-rand wasted on domestic travel and over 3-million-rand squandered on luxury accommodation:

Moving abroad:

# A memorial service for murdered American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk will be held in Arizona on Sunday at a venue which can seat 60-thousand people. Thirty-one-year-old Kirk was shot dead during an open-air speaking event in Utah on Wednesday. His suspected killer, Tyler Robinson, later surrendered to police. Arizona is the headquarters of Kirk’s organisation, Turning Point USA, where the family lived before his death. He was a controversial figure in US political discourse. President Donald Trump announced he will award him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.

# Rugby: South Africa is back at the top of the world rankings after thrashing New Zealand 43-10 in Wellington on Saturday, their biggest-ever victory over their arch-rivals. Ireland has moved into second place, with the All Blacks dropping to third. France and England are fourth and fifth, respectively. Australia has slipped to seventh following their narrow 28-26 defeat to Argentina in Sydney. Los Pumas have moved into sixth position, a crucial spot as it will be band one for the draw for the 2027 World Cup in December.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-34-cents and the euro at 20-rand-37-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-118-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-639-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says drafting a valid will remains one of the most important steps individuals can take to protect their families. This week is National Wills Week, an initiative by the department in partnership with the Law Society of South Africa and Legal Aid South Africa. The department’s spokesperson, Terrence Manase, says during this period, members of the public can draft wills free of charge through participating legal practitioners nationwide:

Stay tuned for more news………….