News 16:00

BULLETIN 11 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA sets non-negotiables in the government of national unity
# The MK Party adopts a new constitution and strategic appointments
# And rugby: Match official appointments for the November Tests are confirmed

# The DA has outlined its non-negotiable positions in the government of national unity. Speaking to the media on the party’s first 100 days in the GNU, leader John Steenhuisen firmly opposed bailouts for state-owned enterprises, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, and National Health Insurance implementation. He also rejected the EFF’s Private Members Bill on the nationalisation of the Reserve Bank:

# The MK Party has adopted a new constitution to set clear objectives, leadership structures, and principles. The constitution outlines the organisation’s vision for political, social, and economic transformation. The party’s national high command deployed officials to different provinces, with party leader Jacob Zuma assigned to KwaZulu-Natal and deputy president John Hlophe to the Western Cape. During a media briefing, national organiser Floyd Shivambu said these steps are intended to strengthen the party’s national presence:  

# The EFF has expressed dismay over the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority not to prosecute president Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala farm scandal. They claim state institutions are protecting Ramaphosa from facing justice. EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys insists that serious crimes were committed, including the possession of undeclared foreign currency and the abuse of state resources:

# The British government is investigating 37 UK-linked businesses for potentially breaking Russian oil sanctions, but no fines have been handed out so far. According to the BBC the identities of the businesses are unknown, but it’s understood some are likely to be maritime insurance firms. The Treasury says it would take action where appropriate but adds it would take considerable time due the complexity of the cases. Financial sanctions on Russia were introduced by the UK and other Western countries following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

# Rugby: South African Morné Ferreira will referee his first Test abroad next month after he was appointed by World Rugby to take charge of the match between Spain and Fiji in Valladolid. World Rugby announced the match officials for the November Test window, which includes the Springboks’ three Tests, in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff. Christophe Ridley of England will be in charge against Scotland, Andrew Brace of Ireland is the referee against England and Karl Dickson of England will be in charge against Wales.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-46-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-143-dollars-99-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-645-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….