News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ramokgopa announces a new electricity generation plan
# JD Vance says Iran must cut its nuclear enrichment to end the war
# And cricket: 156 players participate in today’s auction for SA20’s fifth season

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced a new Section 34 Determination to support additional electricity generation capacity between this year and 2037. The plan includes wind, solar, battery storage and gas-to-power technologies. Speaking in Pretoria, Ramokgopa said a multi-year procurement pipeline will provide the market with greater certainty. He has also introduced the state-led power parks programme. It is aimed at reducing barriers for emerging developers, expanding ownership and supporting transmission, storage and local economic development while integrating new capacity into the national grid.

# AfriForum’s private prosecution unit says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s gender-based violence recovery plan reveals long-standing policing failures. In correspondence with acting national police commissioner Puleng Dimpane, the unit flagged six cases where suspects, including alleged rapists and murderers, have been at large for up to five years. AfriForum’s Barry Bateman says police use the word “circulated” to dodge accountability, while dockets gather dust and victims are left without feedback:

# Social security agency SASSA cautions beneficiaries against unnecessary and frequent changes to payment methods. Spokesperson Andile Tshona says repeated changes can place grants at risk and lead to delays and returned payments due to errors or unverified accounts. He says stable banking helps ensure uninterrupted payments and builds banking history. Tshona warns switching banks does not remove contractual obligations to lenders, and urges beneficiaries to seek financial advice:

Moving abroad:

# US vice president JD Vance says Iran must make a meaningful reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to meet US demands and end the seven-month war. He says Washington wants concrete action rather than promises that Iran will reduce enrichment in future. Vance questions why Tehran needs uranium enriched to 60-percent if it does not intend to build a nuclear weapon. Iran and the US have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but president Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest offer.

# Cricket: Hundred-and-56 players are up for grabs in tonight’s auction for SA20’s fifth season. The 95 South Africans and 61 overseas players were shortlisted from 789 applications received. Only four teams will bid as Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their 19-player squads. Squads must consist of a minimum of eleven South Africans, including two under-23s, and a maximum of seven overseas players. Dewald Brevis, who sold for a record 16.5-million-rand during last season’s auction, has been retained by Pretoria Capitals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cent and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-711-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-118-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 104-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….