News 18:00

BULLETIN 18 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa lauds the elimination of load-reduction in seven provinces
# The Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, reveals R3.1-billion in unrecovered funds at NSFAS
# And, Cape Peninsula University of Technology shuts all campuses amid violent student unrest

# The minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says government has exceeded expectations in eliminating load reduction. Seven of the nine provinces have now ended the practice, with the Eastern Cape being the latest last week. Ramokgopa says work continues in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. He remains confident that both provinces will be completed as soon as possible following continues support in reaching the deadline:

# More than 40-thousand students at 76 institutions were improperly funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, costing 5.1-billion-rand. Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka revealed the findings in an investigation released today. Only two-billion-rand has been recovered, leaving approximately 3.1-billion-rand outstanding. The findings raise serious concerns about NSFAS’s financial controls, eligibility checks, and accountability. She says the investigation highlights the need for stronger oversight to prevent ineligible beneficiaries from receiving funds intended for deserving students in the future.

# The Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga and Limpopo is planning a major infrastructure overhaul following severe flooding in January, with repairs expected to cost about 950-million-rand. The floods damaged roads, accommodation and water infrastructure. The minster for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, says work is now underway to rebuild and improve the damaged facilities, with some areas of Letaba Rest Camp expected to reopen next month:

# The Cape Peninsula University of Technology has closed all its campuses and residences following escalating student unrest. The decision comes after an arson attack at the Bellville campus, where the Old Education building was set alight. No injuries were reported. Academic activities have been suspended, while students have been ordered to evacuate residences. The protests are linked to grievances over student finances, historical debt, residence fees and proposed registration requirements. CPUT says campuses will remain closed until further notice.

# Soccer: FIFA’s chief operating official, Kevin Lamour, has been fired after going public with criticism of president Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell part of the World Cup to investors last month. He described the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise plans as the project of one person, adding staff were deceived. The proposal, which involved selling 21-percent of the governing body to private investment companies, received widespread criticism. Lamour’s departure follows the resignation of a senior adviser to Infantino, Carlos Cordeiro.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-22-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-256-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-403-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….