News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet lauds the revitalisation of state-owned entities and improvements in their performance
# ICASA calls for a revised SABC funding model in the new Bill
# And Rugby: The All Blacks confront players with the Bledisloe Cup every day

# Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says Cabinet praised the progress in revitalising state-owned entities, including significant improvements in their performance. Transnet reported a significant 98-percent reduction in its deficit, while the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa successfully reopened 31 of 40 rail corridors. Ntshavheni told the media that Eskom’s recovery plan has yielded positive results, with load-shedding suspended for over 170-days: 

# The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is urging that a new funding model be included in the SABC Bill. Proposed changes suggest replacing the TV licence system with a household levy. ICASA’s Norman Gidi told the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Digital Technologies that increasing state funding to address the broadcaster’s financial crisis is essential:

# Five men charged with extortion related to a bridge construction project in the uMshwathi area in KwaZulu-Natal have been granted bail of ten-thousand-rand each. The accused, who appeared in the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court, allegedly threatened complainants in August, claiming work would not proceed unless they were hired. National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says the case will be reviewed again on 25 October for further investigation: 

# Rugby: All Black skipper Scott Barrett says despite the New Zealanders being the odds-on favourites to win tomorrow’s Rugby Championship match against Australia in Sydney, they are very aware the Wallabies are desperate to bounce back. The match doubles as the first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests. Australia last held the cup in 2002 and will fight fiercely for it. Barrett revealed the trophy has been prominently on display in the All Blacks’ team room all week to remind them what is at stake.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-52-cents and the euro at 19-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-597-dollars-19-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-608-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A Thai woman has been rescued by police after being strangled by a python for more than two hours. The 64-year-old woman was doing the dishes at home on the outskirts of Bangkok when she felt several bites on her leg. The python then wrapped itself around her and she struggled for almost two hours to free herself. Her neighbours heard her distressed calls and sought assistance from police. It took rescuers about 30 minutes to free her. Pythons are not venomous, but they kill by suffocation.

Stay tuned for more news………….