News 15:00

BULLETIN 19 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A warning that Johannesburg’s decline threatens South Africa’s growth
# Fadiel Adams demands Parliament retracts the claim that he lied about laptop problems
# And roadrunning: Record prize money and field for next year’s 100th Comrades

# The independent non-profit public policy and advocacy organisation Centre for Development and Enterprise, says Johannesburg’s worsening financial, infrastructure and governance crises threaten South Africa’s economic growth. Its report says the city owes creditors 25.2-billion-rand, while infrastructure backlogs run into tens of billions of rand. Johannesburg recorded a 35.9-percent unemployment rate in the second quarter, losing 90-thousand jobs over 14 months. The centre’s spokesperson, Refiloe Benjamin, says political instability, including nine mayors and eight coalitions since 2016, has undermined long-term planning and investment.

# National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams has told the Madlanga commission his legal team has demanded Parliament to retract claims that he fabricated information about his problematic laptop. Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned him over Parliament’s statement. Adams confirmed MPs are provided with three devices, but denied suggesting all were malfunctioning. He says emails were produced to support his account:

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has welcomed the findings of the Public Protector on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The report identified that more than 40-thousand students improperly received NSFAS funding amounting to approximately 5,1-billion-rand. Makaneta is calling on Higher Education and Training minister Buti Manamela to implement the findings as a matter of urgency:

# Roadrunning: Next year’s 100th Comrades Marathon will see the largest field ever as well as record prize money. The organisers will accept 28-thousand entries for the gruelling race on 13 June, while over 8.9-million-rand’s prize money will be on offer. The men’s and women’s winner will receive one-million-rand each, plus bonus incentives if applicable. Entries will be accepted for different categories in stages from next week Tuesday to 22 September. The distance of the down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban’s Kings Park precinct will be revealed later.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-472-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-372-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Johannesburg’s City Parks and Zoo is inviting families to a reunion at the Johannesburg Zoo this Saturday, the 22nd. Entrance will be just 22-rand per person as part of the “22-rand on the 22nd” special, marking the zoo’s 122nd anniversary. The zoo first opened in 1904. City Parks says the discounted fee makes a family outing affordable and encourages grandparents, children, stokvels, and community groups to attend. Visitors are urged to keep the park clean.

Stay tuned for more news………….