News 09:00

BULLETIN 6 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Correctional Services union calls for increased supervision and security
# Eight suspected cash-in-transit robbers were killed and five arrested in Khayelitsha
# And rugby: SANZAAR introduces new rules for the Rugby Championship

# The South African Correctional Services Workers Union is calling for enhanced supervision and security in correctional facilities. This follows recent nationwide raids by the Department of Correctional Services confiscating contraband.  The union condemns inmates at Boksburg correctional facility, for starting a fire to obstruct a cell phone search. The union’s spokesperson Alude Jizana urges Correctional Services minister, Pieter Groenewald, to prioritise the safety of inmates and officers:  

# The SA Wind Energy Association is concerned about Eskom’s failed bid to reserve grid capacity for renewable energy projects procured by the state. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa ruled that Eskom’s application was unclear and vague. After the failure of bid window six of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, no bids were awarded for wind power projects due to a lack of grid access. The association says bid window seven, which seeks to procure five-thousand-megawatts of new generation capacity, is likely to fail as well.

# Eight suspected cash-in-transit robbers were killed in a shootout with police in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, yesterday evening. The group was allegedly planning to commit a cash-in-transit heist. Police spokesperson, Novela Potelwa, says when they arrived on the scene, the suspects started firing shots at police who retaliated. She says five suspects were arrested:

# A federal judge has ruled that Google violated US antitrust law to maintain a monopoly over online search and related advertising. The company was sued by the US Department of Justice in 2020 over its control of about 90-percent of the online search market. Judge Amit Mehta says Google’s powerful position has led to anticompetitive behaviour that must be stopped. The company plans to appeal. US Attorney General Merrick Garland welcomed the ruling, saying no company, no matter how large or influential, is above the law.

# Rugby: Governing body SANZAAR has announced new rule changes for the Rugby Championship, including the introduction of 20-minute red cards. In certain cases, players shown a red card can be replaced by another player 20 minutes later. However, deliberate foul play with a high level of danger will be a red card and the player cannot return or be replaced. Another new rule is the countdown clock of 60 seconds for kickers to take conversions and penalties. The tournament kicks off with Australia hosting South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-46-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 55-thousand-585-dollars-23-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-409-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….