News 07:00

BULLETIN 20 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC says Mark Burke must still be held accountable
# The United Arab Emirates suspends all trade with Iran following a ballistic missile attack
# And, the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy captures the unique bond between the Springboks and All Blacks

# The ANC says the removal of the DA’s chairperson of federal Finance, Mark Burke, from Parliament’s finance-related committees does not absolve him from accountability. On Monday it emerged that investment firm Kastelo, a company of which Burke is an owner and founder and currently run by his brother, is under investigation by the South African Reserve Bank for exchange control violations. The ANC says removal from a committee may address a conflict-of-interest concern, but cannot replace legal processes, investigations or the obligation to answer questions about matters of public interest.

# AfriForum says the updated electricity pricing policy will mean little unless the energy regulator, Nersa, properly enforces existing electricity laws and rules. The organisation’s Morné Mostert says weak regulation is forcing consumers to pay higher electricity bills, while some municipalities fail to meet basic requirements. Mostert added the regulator must ensure electricity tariffs are properly based on the cost of supplying power:

# The Motor Industry Staff Association is calling for urgent action to stop deadly rock-throwing attacks on motorists. This follows the death of a woman who was hit by a large rock while driving under a bridge on the R24 in Bedfordview, Johannesburg. The association’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola urges motorists to stay alert, avoid stopping under bridges and take extra care when approaching known hotspots:

# Gauteng MEC for Education Lebogang Maile says the department will continue efforts to strengthen school safety and combat substance abuse, dangerous weapons and other prohibited items in schools. He joined a SAPS-led unannounced search and seizure operation at three high schools in Alexandra yesterday. Items seized included drugs, knives, glass shards and scissors. Maile says he is concerned about the nature of items being brought onto school premises, particularly suspected drugs and objects capable of causing serious injury:

# United Arab Emirates, Iran’s second-largest commercial partner, has suspended all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Tehran until further notice. This is after two ballistic missiles targeted the Gulf state. The UAE Defence Ministry says its air-defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country, with one falling into the sea and outside its territorial waters. Tehran has firmly denied launching the missiles, calling the accusations baseless and warning that such claims could damage regional diplomacy and efforts to build trust.

# Rugby: Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry trophy splits into two halves, yet is held together by magnetism to capture the unique bond between the Springboks and All Blacks. The trophy design resembles a blade of grass, with South Africa’s half featuring artwork by Bonolo Chepape, and New Zealand’s half adorned with Māori art elements designed by Kereama Taepa. The winners of the four-Test Tour will receive both halves following the final Test in Baltimore, USA, on 12 September. If the series is drawn, each nation will retain one half of the trophy.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-9-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-328-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-501-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….