News 15:00

BULLETIN 23 October 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Nqakula says security cluster decisions were recorded by directors-general
# Greece bans social media for children under 15
# And rugby: The Bok Women coaches make wholesale changes for the clash against Ireland

# Former Safety and Security minister Charles Nqakula says directors-general kept records of decisions taken at weekly security cluster meetings during the apartheid-era prosecutions period. He told the Khampepe Commission the agenda was usually provided at the meeting, and emphasised ministers generally did not keep minutes. He also explains meeting venues were secured against infiltration or interception, a process described by officials as sanitisation:

# The Retail Motor Industry Organisation says South Africa’s automotive localisation strategy must extend beyond vehicle manufacturing to include retail and aftermarket businesses. Speaking at South African Auto Week 2026 in Durban, CEO Ipeleng Mabusela says the sector supports more than 310-thousand jobs across over 23-thousand businesses, contributing an estimated 202.6-billion-rand to the economy. Mabusela highlighted opportunities to manufacture components locally, including tyres, glass and batteries. He says stronger supply chains could create sustainable jobs and boost exports.

# Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, has welcomed minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana’s commitments in the mini-budget relating to gender-based violence and femicide and strengthening social protection. Government will spend 3.8-billion-rand to recruit over three-thousand-500 social workers to strengthen the fight against GBVF. Social grants will continue to be funded. Pule says the funding will strengthen the department’s ability to provide timely interventions, support survivors and ensure women and children have access to the care and protection they deserve.

Moving abroad:

 # Greece has passed legislation banning children under 15 from using social media, with the restrictions due to take effect on the first of January next year. Parliament approved the measure on Friday amid concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s health and safety. Platforms will have to introduce age-verification systems while protecting users’ privacy. Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says companies have sufficient time to prepare. Greece joins a growing number of countries seeking to restrict children’s access to social media.

# Rugby: Springbok Women co-head coach Franzel September says their approach to building depth before the 2029 World Cup is bearing fruit. South Africa plays Ireland in the first of two W-15 Global Series Tests in Cape Town tomorrow with two new props and a new wing from the side that beat Spain earlier this month. Sizophila Solontsi takes over the captaincy from injured Babalwa Latsha. September says Ireland will be a tough opponent:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-56-cents and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-580-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-30-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 115-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….