News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is ‘deeply ashamed’ of the attacks on foreign nationals
# Deputy minister Nel says GBV cannot be solved by the Justice Department alone
# And: Iran is defiant about the Strait of Hormuz as Trump tells Americans to accept the high gas prices

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is deeply ashamed of attacks on foreign nationals. His remarks come amid concerns over attacks targeting migrants and other foreign nationals. Speaking ahead of the Southern African Development Community leaders’ meeting in Durban, Ramaphosa said violence and xenophobia have no place in South Africa, and the government is committed to protecting everyone who lives within the borders:

# The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme continues to lurch from one crisis to another, which has compromised both NSFAS and the broader post-school education and training sector. NEHAWU’s spokesperson, Lwazi Nkolonzi, responded to the Pretoria High Court ruling on the application by former NSFAS Board members challenging the decision of Higher Education and Training minister Buti Manamela to dissolve the Board and replace it with an Administrator:

# The deputy minister for Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, says gender-based violence cannot be solved by the Justice Department alone, saying all South Africans have responsibilities to end GBV. Nel officiated at the closing event of the 2026 Access to Justice Week in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga. He said violence against women is not something to be simply endured, but it is a violation of her rights and dignity. Nel added that traditional leaders have an important role in promoting peaceful resolution of disputes, social cohesion and respect for the law.

# The City of Cape Town says its marine unit has made major gains in the past year, including a nearly 500-percent increase in the recovery of poached marine resources. Recovered goods rose from about two-thousand-500 to nearly 15-thousand. Law enforcement officers also shut down 953 illegal shebeens. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the results show a stronger focus on by-law enforcement and crime prevention:

# Iran is refusing to back down over the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with the United States remain high. Iran’s deputy foreign minister says the strategic waterway will only reopen on Tehran’s terms and called on Washington to accept what he described as defeat. Meanwhile at a rally in New York, US President Donald Trump has warned Americans to expect higher petrol prices while the conflict continues. He says paying more at the pumps is worthwhile to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The standoff has halted much tanker traffic through the crucial oil route.

# And soccer: Pressure keeps mounting on FIFA president Gianni Infantino after New Zealand became the latest country to withdraw support for his re-election next year. Several countries have already decided not to back the Italian for a fourth term, while the governing bodies of Europe, Asia and the Americas called for a review of his leadership. This follows his failed plan to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial operations to a private investment company. New Zealand has asked for an independent review of the proposal.

Stay tuned for more news………….