News 16:00

BULLETIN 16 September 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA opposes Thembi Simelane’s BRICS trip amid corruption allegations
# The DA calls for national action as extortionists target social workers in vulnerable communities
# And cricket: The Proteas Women are ready to take on Pakistan

# ActionSA has denounced Justice minister Thembi Simelane’s planned attendance at the BRICS Justice Ministers meeting in Russia, citing serious allegations of corruption. The party wants her suspended until investigations into her involvement in the unlawful 356-million VBS bank investment during her term as Polokwane Mayor are concluded. ActionSA is working with the Public Protector’s office to request an independent investigation. The party’s Athol Trollip stressed the importance of safeguarding the integrity of South Africa’s justice system:

# The DA has reported a disturbing trend of extortionists targeting social workers in vulnerable communities in the Western Cape.  The party urges the state to ensure greater protection for these essential service providers. Wendy Kaizer-Philander says social workers, already vulnerable to attacks and hijackings, have reported 41 incidents in the past year, including assaults and robberies:  

# A Jeff Bezos-backed group, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, is launching a programme to attract investment in South African municipal power grids. The grids need 319-billion-rand to accommodate renewable energy. The alliance, founded by the Bezos Earth Fund, Rockefeller Foundation, and Ikea Foundation, aims to upgrade infrastructure and support municipalities struggling to raise funds. The programme will focus on cities like Rustenburg and Newcastle. The group has already invested in South Africa by establishing a training facility for renewable energy workers.

# The United States has announced it is preparing an imminent and large aid package for Ukraine. This comes as America and Britain consider whether Ukrainian forces should be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan says president Joe Biden will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, later this month. The country is reported to be struggling while Russia makes progress around the Pokrovsk region.

# Cricket: The Proteas Women will take on Pakistan today in Multan, in the first of three T20 matches. This series serves as important preparation for next month’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where South Africa is grouped alongside West Indies, England, Scotland and Bangladesh. Captain Laura Wolvaardt says they are looking to improve on all fronts:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-29-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-762-dollars-91-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-582-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….