News 13:00

BULLETIN 29 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Crime Intelligence head links political killings task team disbandment to the influence of an organised crime cartel
# Tennis: Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek advance at the China Open
# And South Africa makes history with five International Emmy Awards nominations

# Suspended Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo says attempts to disband the political killings task team were driven by an organised crime cartel that influenced the Police Ministry. Khumalo is appearing at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria after evidence linked his July arrest to alleged efforts to weaken anti-corruption work. He told the commission the task team was established to ensure accountability for political killings in KwaZulu-Natal and has faced retaliation in carrying out its mandate:

# The DA says rising infrastructure costs, a constrained and outdated local government revenue model, and above-inflation increases in electricity and wage inputs have placed immense strain on municipal budgets. The DA’s Leon van Wyk says Western Cape municipalities such as Drakenstein, Mossel Bay, Stellenbosch, Saldanha Bay, Overstrand, and George all recorded strong financial performance. He says financial stability is not an end in itself, but the foundation for expanding basic services, supporting investment, and protecting jobs:

# Environmental groups, including Green Connection, will protest outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre during Africa Energy Week 2025, which gets underway today. The event unites African energy leaders for four days of intense dialogue on the future of the African energy industry. Green Connection’s Lisa Makaula says they are calling for investments in community-owned solar, wind, and resilient food systems. She adds they are also advocating for a just and inclusive energy transition that prioritises people over profits:

# Tennis: World number two, Jannik Sinner, beat the Hungarian Fabian Marozsan in straight sets to secure a third straight China Open semi-final as Iga Swiatek reached the last 16 when her opponent retired hurt. The Italian beat the world number 57 6-1, 7-5 and next plays third-seeded Alex de Minaur. In the women’s draw, Poland’s Swiatek, the top seed, won the first set 6-love against Camila Osorio and advanced when the Colombian called it quits. Swiatek next plays Emma Navarro of the United States.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-30-cents and the euro at 20-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 112-thousand-138-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-812-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

# And finally: South Africa has earned five International Emmy Awards nominations, the most ever for an African country in a single year. MultiChoice has secured four nominations for Chasing the Sun 2, the Afrikaans crime drama Koek, hard-hitting documentary School Ties, and Catch Me a Killer, a psychological thriller where Charlotte Hope, playing Micki Pistorius, earned a nomination for best performance by an actress. Play Room Live is nominated in the kids: factual and entertainment category. Winners will be announced in New York on the 24th of November.

Stay tuned for more news………….