News 18:00

BULLETIN 3 September 18:00

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Police minister says extortion levels are alarmingly high in four provinces
# ActionSA pursues legal action against the IEC for failure to investigate the ANC’s 150-million-rand debt settlement
# And, cricket: Fifteen women are included in South Africa’s squad for the World Cup and T20s against Pakistan

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu says the police is intensifying its operations to combat extortion, targeting Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape, which accounts for 73-percent of the country’s crime. Recent police actions have resulted in significant confrontations with extortionists in Cape Town, Mthatha, Nelson Mandela Bay, and Gauteng. Addressing the National Assembly, Mchunu said the police is bolstering intelligence efforts and collaborating with local and provincial authorities: 

# ActionSA has filed legal action against the Electoral Commission for its failure to investigate the ANC’s 150-million-rand debt settlement with Ezulweni Investments. The party alleges the IEC’s lack of action undermines the Party Funding Act’s transparency requirements and the settlement involves questionable financial practices. ActionSA national chairperson Micheal Beaumont says the legal action aims to scrutinise and challenge the IEC’s decisions and ensure proper investigation and transparency in party funding:

# The Financial Sector Conduct Authority is requiring banks, insurers, and other financial institutions to unveil their consumer education spending plans under a new Financial Education Commitment Charter. The FSCA aims to enhance consumer protection and financial literacy in a country where many live paycheck to paycheck. Financial institutions must now allocate at least 0.4-percent of their after-tax profits to financial education and demonstrate how these funds are spent, addressing issues like pyramid schemes and financial scams.

# Cricket: A squad of 15 women had been announced for the T20 World Cup, and a series against Pakistan. Captain Laura Wolvaardt will have the support of experienced players such as Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Suné Luus, and Chloé Tryon. The Proteas and Pakistan will play three T20s later this month, while the World Cup starts in the United Arab Emirates on 3 October. Proteas convenor of selectors Clinton du Preez says Dolphins legspinner Seshnie Naidu will make her debut:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-97-cents and the euro at 19-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-853-dollars-98-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-479-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

# And finally, sixty-percent of African youth are looking to leave because unchecked corruption threatens their future, according to a poll of more than five-thousand-600 youngsters in 16 countries. Corruption is seen as the single greatest hurdle they face to achieve their own potential and a better life. The Johannesburg-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation commissioned the poll of people aged 18 to 24. The 2024 African Youth Survey, which the foundation says is unparalleled in scope and size, was conducted via face-to-face interviews in January and February in countries ranging from South Africa to Ethiopia.

Stay tuned for more news………….