News 06:00

BULLETIN 26 August 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The queen of country, Dolly Parton, has died
# President Ramaphosa pledges tougher action against failing municipal water systems
# And rugby: Siya Kolisi is fit and ready to face the All Blacks in the second Test

# Legendary country music singer, songwriter, and actress Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. In a career that spanned six decades, she wrote more than three-thousand songs and sold over 100 million records worldwide. She will be remembered for her songs that told beautiful stories, such as Coat of Many Colours, Jolene, 9 to 5, and I Will Always Love You. In a video message, Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver says Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is developing a public water services platform that will allow communities to track municipal water supply and quality. Answering questions in Parliament, Ramaphosa also promised action against corruption and so-called water tanker mafias that interfere with water services. He said every failing water treatment plant must have a funded recovery plan with clear responsibility for fixing problems:

# EFF leader Julius Malema says government’s failure to act against the alleged instigators and perpetrators of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa creates the impression that the violence was state-sanctioned. He was speaking during president Cyril Ramaphosa’s answer session in the National Assembly yesterday. The president stated that the government is investigating alleged attempts by forces outside the country to influence and instigate some of the violence witnessed against foreign nationals. Malema says this violence has a face:

# The Biko family has been granted more time to prepare for the reopened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. The family only secured legal representation on Monday and asked the High Court in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, for a postponement to study a large volume of evidence from the original inquest and Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. Biko’s widow, Nontsikelelo, is expected to testify when the inquest resumes.

# President Donald Trump says the US Navy has removed and/or detonated all mines within the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz. The vital waterway, through which some 20-percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is used to transit, has largely been closed by Iran since the war started in February. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. He added that the US Navy is using Space Force technology to monitor the entire Strait.

# Rugby: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has recovered from a hamstring injury and will start against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. The 35-year-old, who suffered the injury against Argentina three weeks ago, missed the first Test in Johannesburg last weekend. Kolisi will form a loose trio with Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was initially named as captain in the Test in which he will earn his 100th Test cap, and Jasper Wiese. This means that Paul de Villiers drops out of the matchday squad.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-91-cents and the euro at 18-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-768-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-670-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….