News 09:00

BULLETIN 31 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Postbank urges the remaining SASSA social grant beneficiaries to migrate to black cards
# Over two-thousand Ford Rangers are recalled after concerns over an airbag defect
# And, at least 15 people are missing in the Grand Canyon flash floods

# Today is the final day for social grant beneficiaries to migrate from the South African Social Security Agency gold cards to Postbank’s new black cards. More than 80-percent of the targeted migrations were completed before today’s deadline. Postbank spokesperson Bongani Diako says the transition has been supported by extensive operational preparations and a public awareness campaign to ensure beneficiaries understood the changes and the importance of migrating within the stipulated period:

# Ford Motor Company of South Africa has announced the recall of two-thousand-275 double-cab bakkies produced for the 2026–2027 production year and sold between May 22nd and June 23rd this year. This follows the identification of a potential problem with the vehicles’ side-curtain airbag system. Vehicles included in the recall were also exported to Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini. National Consumer Commission spokesperson Phetho Ntaba says the side curtain airbags may interact with the B-Pillar trim during inflation and not deploy as intended:

# The ANC Greater Joburg Region has expressed concern at a Sunday World article headlined “Mbalula halts ANC’s Morero showdown”, which it says is highly misleading. The article claimed that secretary-general Fikile Mbalula instructed the provincial leadership to cancel its planned briefing last week. This follows Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero’s expletive-laden outburst at a resident in Tshepisong. The ANC says the article unnecessarily attempts to manufacture a narrative of factional conflict within the party, at a time when the organisation is focused on rebuilding electoral support ahead of the elections.

# At least 15 people are missing or unaccounted for after a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on Sunday. Sixty-two hikers and campers were airlifted out of the area. The National Park Service has warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast for today, which could lead to additional flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and changing trail and river conditions. The Grand Canyon, one of the most popular national parks in the US, saw more than 400-thousand visitors last month.

# Golf: Four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler claimed a second FedExCup title in three years at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, securing his 22nd PGA Tour title. The world number one finished on 16 under, three shots clear of Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who posted a final-round 72. American debutant Ryan Gerard finished third. Scheffler, who joins Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods as the only multiple FedExCup champions, says coming from behind and being able to win tournaments throughout the season is a good feeling:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-481-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-414-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….