News 16:00

BULLETIN 3 September 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party demands an independent chairperson for the impeachment committee
# Gauteng records a 96-percent decline in foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks
# And rugby: The Competition Commission investigates SARU for alleged unfair business practices over suites

# The MK Party is calling for Parliament’s impeachment committee to be chaired by an independent, non-government of national unity aligned person. The party has criticised the committee for overturning its own decision to appoint advocate Thandazani Madonsela as evidence leader following a complaint from president Cyril Ramaphosa. The MK Party has argued an independent chairperson would not have reopened a nomination based on a complaint from the very person under investigation. It adds the committee must be beyond reproach.

# Gauteng has recorded a 96.34-percent decline in new foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, with cases dropping from 166 to six between October last year and last month. Over 542-thousand animals were vaccinated, with 94-percent of cattle outside feedlots receiving initial vaccinations. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s spokesperson, Danisile Sathekge, says 176 of 308 infected herds have been cleared of quarantine, with vaccination, surveillance and movement controls assisting the progress:

# Government says a safer South Africa requires the collective efforts of government, law enforcement, and every community. Statistics South Africa’s 2025/26 Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey indicates many citizens feel relatively safe. Deputy government spokesperson, William Baloyi, says it’s concerning that fewer than two in five people feel safe walking alone at night. He says it’s equally concerning that only about 48-percent of households affected by housebreaking reported the crime:

Moving abroad:

# European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen condemns a Russian drone sabotage plot at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport, calling it a new escalation on European Union soil. Speaking alongside NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, Von der Leyen declared Russian intimidation would not work. She warns the EU will not tolerate attacks on critical infrastructure, and vows to tighten sanctions against Moscow. Russia denied involvement, but Von der Leyen emphasizes the hybrid threat demands a faster, coordinated European defense response to protect civilian targets.

# Rugby: The Competition Commission has started an investigation against the South African Rugby Union following complaints over the selling of tickets for suites at stadiums. SARU and some of its affiliated agencies are accused of unfair business practices for making hospitality suite packages available only to appointed commercial rights agencies such as Megapro and Sail. The Citizen reports the complainants demand full transparency from SARU, and hope the investigation will ensure access to matches is open, fair and free from monopolistic bullying.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-1-cent and the euro at 18-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-61-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-202-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-466-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….