News 17:00

BULLETIN 4 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ronald Lamola confirms US engagement amid the UN General Assembly trip
# A judge says the Trump administration unlawfully blocked almost 36-billion-rand to Harvard
# And Rugby: Rassie Erasmus says the Boks’ belief in vital moments should lead to victory over the All Blacks

# International Relations and Cooperation minister Ronald Lamola says his upcoming US trip coincides with the United Nations General Assembly, where engagements will focus on trade and tariffs. Speaking to SABC News on the sidelines at the Thabo Mbeki Foundation dialogue, Lamola stressed that while talks with US stakeholders continue, South Africa must prepare for the worst. He emphasised that government is accelerating market diversification to mitigate potential tariff impacts on local businesses:

# The Public Servants Association has called on Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to urgently adjust tax brackets to keep pace with inflation. The PSA demands automatic, inflation-linked adjustments, transparent reporting on additional revenue, and an end to hidden taxation. The union’s Claude Naiker warns that bracket creep is eroding workers’ take-home pay, leaving salary increases meaningless, particularly for lower- and middle-income earners.

# The DA says the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s decision to centralise food bank operations has deepened food insecurity, leaving thousands hungry. The DA’s Refiloe Nt’sekhe says decentralisation worked better through 288 non-profit organisations and five regional banks. Nt’sekhe has raised concerns after a quarterly report showed only 34-thousand-114 parcels were delivered against a target of 53-thousand-and-25. She says the department’s failures prove poor planning and weak financial controls:

Moving abroad:

# A federal judge gave Harvard University a landmark victory in its fight against the Trump administration, siding with the Ivy League institution in its effort to restore almost 36-billion-rand in federal funding for research frozen by the White House. The decision rejects the administration’s argument that it was targeting the university due to antisemitism on campus. The decision is a major victory for Harvard, the only university targeted by the Trump administration. The White House indicated it will appeal.

# Rugby: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says victory over the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday will boil down to his men’s belief in the vital moments. He announced an experienced team for the Rugby Championship Test, led by Jesse Kriel, with centurions Eben Etzebeth and Willie le Roux both in the starting-15. Erasmus says there is little to choose between the world’s top-two sides and the small margins will be decisive. He says England’s Karl Dickson is a good referee and they expect a very competitive game.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-77-cents and the euro at 20-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-770-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-552-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….