News 12:00

BULLETIN 31 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA leader says the ANC is in terminal decline and trying to cling to the comrade state as a lifeline
# A suspected illegal mining kingpin is killed during a shootout with police in Carletonville
# And Airlink defends its low flyover at the Cape Town Stadium before the second Test

# DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has criticised president Cyril Ramaphosa’s claim in his party’s local government manifesto that ANC-run municipalities will enjoy an advantage because their mayors can turn to a comrade in national government. He says this is contrary to the reality and the spirit of the government of national unity. Hill-Lewis says Ramaphosa is asking South Africans to vote ANC only because its comrades occupy positions in the state:

# Ramaphosa met with Eskom board chairperson Mteto Nyati to reaffirm South Africa’s energy reform path as imperative to achieve an affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply. Nyati had warned government’s ownership plans for the power utility would undermine Eskom’s finances and unsettle investors. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the establishment of a fully independent transmission system operator is being overseen by Eskom’s restructuring task team:

# A wanted alleged illegal mining kingpin was killed by the police’s National Intervention Unit during a tracing operation in Carletonville, Gauteng. Members went to a house where the suspect was believed to be hiding. National spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the suspect started shooting at police, forcing them to open fire. She says an AK-47 rifle and 125 rounds of ammunition were seized:

# Airlink has defended its formation flyover over Cape Town Stadium before Saturday’s second Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks. It says no aviation safety regulations were breached, despite social media concerns that the aircraft appeared to fly unusually low. Airlink says the flypast required careful planning and rehearsals under guidance from the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Services. It adds flight data confirms the aircraft stayed within approved safety altitude and speed limits.

# Tennis: Argentina’s Mariano Navone stunned 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open. The Serbian, who was struggling physically, went down in five sets to the world number 49, marking his first loss in the opening round of a major since 2006. 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia beat French qualifier Hugo Gaston in straight sets. In the women’s draw, American Jessica Pegula defeated Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in two sets, while there were also first-round victories for Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Italian Jasmine Paolini.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-11-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-967-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-437-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….