News 13:00

BULLETIN 31 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Constitutional Court dismisses Zuma and Mbeki’s bid to recuse Justice Khampepe
# The DA leader says the ANC is in terminal decline and trying to cling to the comrade state as a lifeline
# And tennis: Roger Federer is inducted into the hall of fame

# Former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki lost their bid to have Justice Sisi Khampepe recuse herself as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases inquiry. Zuma and Mbeki cited Khampepe’s past TRC and prosecutorial roles as grounds for bias. The court upheld her decision not to recuse herself, and the former presidents must now appear before the commission as witnesses. Justice Leona Theron delivered the verdict:

# 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:

# Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya has appointed Molatelo Mashola as mayoral committee member for Utility Services in place of Frans Boshielo. Moya’s spokesperson, Samkelo Mgobozi, says Mashola served as chief whip of council, which required him to provide political leadership and work across the metro’s governance structures. He adds the Utility Services portfolio is critical, as it oversees some of the most fundamental services provided by Tshwane, including water and electricity.

# Tennis: Swiss maestro Roger Federer says his induction into the hall of fame is one of the greatest honours of his life. The 20-time Grand Slam champion tearfully accepted the honour at a ceremony in Rhode Island, America. He made his professional debut at the age of 16 in 1998 and went on to win eight Wimbledon singles titles, six Australian Opens, five US Opens and the French Open in 2009. Federer says fame was never his goal, but rather to spend his life doing something he loves.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-12-cents and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-643-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-442-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

# And finally: As Women’s Month ends today, Inyathelo salutes the extraordinary female leaders, activists, and social workers who form the backbone of the of the country’s civil society. South Africa’s NPO sector comprises nearly 300-thousand registered non-profits and women make up an estimated 65-percent to 70-percent of the NPO workforce. Inyathelo’s Feryal Domingo says while Women’s Month provides a welcome moment for celebration, the work does not pause on 1 September:

Stay tuned for more news………….