News 13:00

BULLETIN 9 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa calls for global unity amid rising geopolitical instability
# The situation at Fort Hare’s Alice campus remains tense as violent student protests continue
# And cricket: Proteas fast bowler Kwena Maphaka is ruled out of the Pakistan tour

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says growing geopolitical uncertainty is undermining global security and economic growth. Speaking at the European Union global gateway forum in Brussels, Belgium, he urged renewed commitment to peace, international law, and reform of institutions like the United Nations. Ramaphosa praised South Africa’s strategic partnership with the EU, highlighting joint efforts to boost green and digital infrastructure, trade and innovation across Africa, fostering sustainable growth for all:

# Eastern Cape police say the situation at the University of Fort Hare’s campus in Alice remains tense due to ongoing student protests. Police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa says eight students were arrested for public violence and business burglary on Tuesday. They appeared before the local Magistrate’s Court yesterday and the case was postponed to next month. Mawisa says no arrests had been made so far for malicious damage to property or arson:

# The Auditor-General office has granted the SABC an unqualified audit opinion for its financial statements ending 31 March, for the second consecutive year. The broadcaster achieved a ten-percent increase in TV licence revenue, reversing last year’s seven-percent decline. Despite this progress, the SABC recorded a net loss of 240-million-rand as expenses rose faster than income. CEO Nomsa Chabeli says the achievement reflects growing stability and stronger governance amid funding challenges.

Moving abroad:

# The World Trade Organisation has sharply cut its 2026 global merchandise trade growth forecast to 0.5-percent, down from 1.8-percent. The organisation cites delayed effects of US president Donald Trump’s tariffs. WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warns of a bleak outlook but says the global trading system remains resilient. For 2025, the WTO raised its forecast to 2.4-percent, driven by import surges ahead of the tariff hikes and booming artificial intelligence-related trade.

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has been ruled out of Saturday’s one-off T20 International against Namibia, and the tour of Pakistan due to a hamstring strain. The 19-year-old sustained the injury while playing for the Lions in Cape Town last week. He will undergo rehabilitation over the next four weeks. Dolphins fast bowler Ottneil Baartman has been named as Maphaka’s replacement, while Lizaad Williams has been added to the one-day squad for the Pakistan series.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-93-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-702-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-39-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….