News 15:00

BULLETIN 26 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA will contest 24 municipalities with 794 candidates
# Matlala is warned of serious consequences for refusing to answer questions
# And tennis: Discounted tickets for the US Open are made available to New York’s residents

# Build One South Africa will contest 24 municipalities across five provinces in the 4 November local government elections, fielding 794 candidates in its first local election. Spokesperson Graham Charter says the municipalities include Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town and Mangaung, representing about 25-million people. He says 37-percent of candidates are under 35, and 45-percent are women, drawn from professions including teachers, engineers, healthcare workers and entrepreneurs. He says the party will launch its election manifesto on 4 September.

# Madlanga commission commissioner Sesi Baloyi has warned businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala that repeatedly refusing to answer questions could have serious consequences. Matlala declined to respond to questions concerning former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona. Baloyi says witnesses may lawfully refuse to answer only where information is protected by legal privilege or where answering could lead to self-incrimination. She stresses outside these exceptions, Matlala is obliged to answer questions:

# The Tshwane Metro Police Department arrested 20 illegal immigrants in Bronkhorstspruit and Atteridgeville through targeted law enforcement and illegal immigrants operations. In the Bronkhorstspruit area alone, 16 people were apprehended for contravening the Immigration Act. Spokesperson Puleng Motholo says a total of 59 AARTO infringement notices were also issued and numerous buildings inspected:

# Tennis: Residents of New York will get the chance to buy tickets for the US Open at a discount price. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the US Tennis Association announced one-thousand tickets will be available at one-hundred-dollar – approximately one-thousand-600-rand – each in an effort to make the tournament more affordable for locals. They go on sale today on a first come, first served basis. Other tickets sell for around four-thousand-600-rand each. The tournament starts at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-92-cents and the euro at 18-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-657-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-617-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Standard Bank announced the Top 10 finalists for its 2026 Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge. The finalists from all nine provinces will compete for the one-million-rand grand prize at the Kasi SME summit in Gqeberha tomorrow. There are nine provincial winners and one Viewers’ Choice entry. The entrepreneurs work in sectors including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and construction. Standard Bank’s development head, Naledzani Mosomane, says the challenge demonstrates the immense talent in communities:

Stay tuned for more news………….