News 16:00

BULLETIN 5 September 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Solidarity urges president Cyril Ramaphosa to act on the looming job loss crisis
# Four nine-year-old boys are arrested in a Hazelmere home break-in
# And Rugby: Australia and the USA fight it out for the final Women’s World Cup quarterfinal spot

# Trade union Solidarity is urgently appealing to president Cyril Ramaphosa to personally intervene in what it calls a looming jobs bloodbath. Solidarity warns that nearly 250-thousand jobs are at risk after major companies, including Glencore, ArcelorMittal, and Goodyear, issued retrenchment notices. Deputy general-secretary, Willie Venter, blames global pressures and government failures including Eskom tariff increases and collapsing Transnet infrastructure. He calls for urgent relief measures to prevent mass layoffs:

# Four nine-years-old boys were arrested by Reaction Unit South Africa in Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal, after a female resident caught them breaking into her home yesterday morning. Preliminary investigations link the boys to a string of local break-ins targeting homes and tuck shops, with stolen items including phones, cash, and electronics. Authorities are investigating the matter while child protection laws shield their identities. Meanwhile, the Hazelmere community have called for support programmes to raise awareness about crime prevention and vigilance to curb problematic behaviour.

# The Road Traffic Management Corporation has cautioned motorists of heavy traffic on the N1 and N3 this weekend due to major religious pilgrimages and festivals. The N1 north will be busy as pilgrims travel to Moria in Limpopo, for the Zion Christian Church’s gathering, while the N1 south will carry traffic to the Mangaung Cultural Festival in the Free State. The N3 is expected to swell with Shembe Church members heading to Harrismith in the Free State. Motorists are urged to exercise patience, caution, and obey traffic laws.

# Cabinet has reviewed progress on phase two of the Lesotho Highlands water project, aimed at securing Gauteng’s water supply. Construction of the Polihali Dam and transfer tunnel is underway, with water expected to start flowing by 2028. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told the media the project is set for completion by 2029 and will allow Rand Water to increase supply to Gauteng municipalities, supporting the province’s growing water needs:

# Rugby: Only one quarterfinal place is still available in this weekend’s final pool matches at the Women’s World Cup in England. South Africa, the hostess, France, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada and Ireland have already booked their places in the play-offs, with Australia and the USA fighting it out to qualify from Pool A. The Springboks play France in their final group match in Northampton on Sunday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be played next weekend, the semifinals a week later and the finals on the 27th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-58-cents and the euro at 20-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 112-thousand-612-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-582-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….