News 18:00

BULLETIN 17 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# OUTA says placing NSFAS under administration was unnecessary and avoidable
# The search for the Indonesian earthquake victims is underway
# And, soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo hints at retiring at the end of the season

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme crisis could have been avoided if the vacancies on the board had been filled instead of placing the scheme under administration. This follows a ruling by the High Court in Pretoria suspending the appointment of the scheme’s administrator, Hlengani Mathebula and restoring the remaining board members. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage calls for the board to be strengthened, stable leadership to be restored and student funding to continue without disruption.

# The DA says a 197.4-million-rand Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing contract breached procurement rules, with 156.4-million-rand already paid. The DA’s Michael Sun says four officials have been implicated, but none have been suspended or disciplined. He says the contract with Simunye Air Charter was terminated in January after auditor-general findings and a referral to the Special Investigating Unit. Sun says the Airwing is now grounded, forcing Gauteng to rely on 12 borrowed helicopters:

# The City of Cape Town is hosting a Housing Investment Connect Conference in Century City to accelerate affordable housing delivery and attract private-sector investment. Human Settlements Mayoral Committee Member Carl Pophaim told the SABC that rising population is making housing an increasingly urgent need. The conference discusses unlocking municipal land, streamlining development regulations, promoting green and alternative building technologies. He says partnerships with investors are crucial for more affordable housing:

# Rescuers in Indonesia are searching for victims trapped beneath collapsed buildings after a powerful earthquake killed at least 68 people. More than 200 people have been injured, while thousands have been evacuated. Nearly one-thousand-600 aftershocks have rattled the island nation, with many residents sheltering in tents, afraid to return home. The earthquake triggered landslides and blocked roads, hampering rescue efforts. Authorities are preparing helicopter operations to reach isolated areas. The disaster has cast a sombre shadow over Independence Day celebrations, with residents facing continuing fears of further tremors.

# Soccer: Forty-one-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested he will retire at the end of this season. Portugal’s captain is contracted to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr until next year. Ronaldo told Vogue he has his future all mapped out, emphasising he has so many things to keep him busy. He has won five Ballons d’Or, five Champions League titles, league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and the European Championship and Nations League with his country.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-20-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-563-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-408-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….