News 18:00

BULLETIN 25 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Siphamandla Mthethwa will take over as ACSA CEO from 1 November
# The Gauteng Health Department says Emergency Medical Services operations remain uninterrupted amid staff disciplinary action
# And motorsport, George Russell takes pole at the Azerbaijan GP

# Airports Company South Africa has appointed Siphamandla Mthethwa as its new CEO, effective from 1 November. He returns to ACSA after previously serving as chief financial officer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chartered accountant has experience in corporate finance, treasury and risk management. In a statement, the company’s board said Mthethwa’s return comes as the company moves into a new phase of growth, including major airport investment plans. Mthethwa takes over from acting CEO Charles Shilowa.

# The DA in the Western Cape says construction mafias are not only holding up infrastructure projects, but also stealing jobs, investment and opportunity from communities. Seven incidents of extortion, 14 of intimidation and seven of violence have been recorded on provincial government infrastructure projects between 2021 and last month. The DA’s Dirk Wessels says three of the seven extortion cases caused project delays ranging from two weeks to ten months:

# The Gauteng Department of Health has moved to reassure the public that Emergency Medical Services operations remain uninterrupted despite disciplinary action against 21 employees. The officials have been issued with charge sheets for alleged dereliction of duty after failing to complete their scheduled working hours. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says that, contrary to reports, there are currently no EMS officials who are suspended:

# US President Donald Trump has expressed concern about the weakness of the Japanese yen during a meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama saids Takaichi told Trump an undervalued yen is problematic. The two leaders met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Katayama said their discussion reaffirmed a shared commitment to counter excessive currency volatility, following coordinated intervention earlier by both countries. The yen has continued to weaken, increasing Japan’s energy import costs and adding to inflation concerns.

# Motorsport: George Russell has taken pole position for tomorrow’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The Mercedes driver was almost nine-tenths of a second faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who will start alongside him on the front row. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli crashed during the first qualifying section and will start only 16th. Oscar Piastri qualified third, ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth. Max Verstappen will start eighth. The race will be held tomorrow because of Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-700-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-267-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….