News 09:00

BULLETIN 24 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A law expert says the Coalition Bill does not address the governance dysfunction of local government
# Cosatu says the ANC’s election manifesto speaks to the needs of workers
# And, the British prime minister will visit Ukraine, marking its 35th anniversary of independence

# Constitutional law expert professor Pierre de Vos says the problem with the Coalition Bill is that it targets the symptoms instead of the root cause of governance dysfunction and instability in local government. The bill seeks to provide a legislative framework for the formation of coalition governments. In an opinion piece for News24, De Vos says the bill contains vague and difficult-to-enforce provisions that will lead to a flurry of litigation. He suggests a change to the electoral system to try to create a system with fewer malfunctioning political parties.

# Union federation Cosatu says the ANC’s 2026 local government elections manifesto speaks to the needs of workers, from creating jobs to compelling all municipalities to pay salaries. The party’s manifesto sets out six key priorities, aimed at rebuilding public trust, including improving water provision, ensuring reliable electricity supply and addressing critical service delivery challenges facing communities. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the days of tolerating mediocrity, corruption and criminality must end, adding that those who fail to deliver must go:

# The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team has arrested two additional suspects in connection with alleged fraud, theft and tampering with essential infrastructure at the Emfuleni Local Municipality. The duo, who were apprehended in Vanderbijlpark, are attached to the Revenue and Electrical Departments. National Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says this brings the total number of suspects arrested in the investigation to seven. She adds that they will appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court today:

# British prime minister Andy Burnham is visiting Ukraine today to reaffirm his country’s support for Kyiv in the wake of escalating deadly Russian strikes. He is expected to meet with president Volodymyr Zelensky to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Burnham will announce that his government has agreed to allow defence firm MBDA to release classified information on British components for the long-range missile, SCALP. This is to help Ukraine build its own version. Burnham says the friendship between Britain and Kyiv will long outlast Russia’s illegal war.

# Golf: American Wyndham Clark held off compatriot Patrick Cantlay and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy to win the BMW Championship in Missouri by three shots, his third victory of the season. Clark held a five-shot lead going into the final day, but saw his advantage evaporate as Cantlay and McIlroy caught up and challenged him. However, Clark managed to hold on and finish on 17 under par. Cantlay finished second and McIlroy third. Clark says experience got him over the line:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-200-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-639-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….