News 15:00

BULLETIN 15 September 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights slams Pollsmoor’s signal-blocking plan
# The Free Market Foundation says South Africa’s economic freedom ranking is disappointing
# And Rugby: The Sharks pick new combinations to face the Glasgow Warriors in the first URC match

# The South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights has condemned Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s proposal to block cellphone signals at Pollsmoor Prison. The plan, backed by Correctional Services, seeks to curb inmates from coordinating crimes and extorting contractors from behind bars. The organisation argues the move could infringe on prisoners’ constitutional rights, including access to legal counsel and family. The group urged authorities to find solutions that balance security with human rights protections.

# Free Market Foundation CEO, David Ansara says South Africa’s economic freedom ranking is disappointing, but not surprising. He says according to the foundation and Canada’s Fraser Institute 2025 annual report, South Africa ranks 83rd out of 165 countries and territories. Ansara says people living in countries with high levels of economic freedom enjoy greater prosperity, more political and civil liberties, and live longer:

# Patriotic Alliance deputy president Kenny Kunene says he is the best candidate to lead Johannesburg in the 2026 Local Government Elections. He claims his performance as acting mayor speaks volumes. The former mayoral committee member for Transport says he is aware of the challenges faced by residents including proper service delivery. He highlighted to SABC News his achievements in stabilising Johannesburg’s transport department within days:

# A Paris court convicted former French president Nicolas Sarkozy on charges of criminal conspiracy but acquitted him of corruption and accepting illegal campaign financing, in his trial into accusations that late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi helped fund his victorious 2007 presidential run. The trial is the latest in a string of legal troubles for the 70-year old right-wing former leader who denies the charges. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has already been convicted in two separate cases and stripped of France’s highest honour.

# Rugby: The Sharks take on the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland tomorrow, looking to get their United Rugby Championship tournament off to a successful start. Head coach John Plumtree says the front row hasn’t played together, the same with the locks and the nine-ten combination. Vincent Tshituka captains a side that has a mix of old faces and new signings in the absence of Springboks and injured players. Prop Simphiwe Matanzima, scrumhalf Ross Braude and wings Christie Grobbelaar and Edwill van der Merwe make their debuts, while Jaden Hendrikse has been named at flyhalf.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-452-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-751-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….