News 08:00

BULLETIN 13 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party’s case against the SABC over the use of government of national unity is in court today
# The DA criticises the director-general of Tourism for an alleged toxic work environment
#And four Gauteng learners die from suspected food and rat poisoning

# The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg will today hear the MK Party’s case against the SABC. The party filed urgent papers challenging the public broadcaster’s use of the term government of national unity. The MK Party argues that the current arrangement as a result of ordinary democratic outcomes does not fit the definitional elements of a government of national unity. It alleges that the SABC is deliberately misleading the public by using the term. The party wants the court to declare the conduct of the broadcaster as unconstitutional.

# The DA has called for an investigation into Tourism Director-General Victor Tharage, following reports of bullying and manipulation of power. Reports suggest Tharage’s actions caused several senior staff resignations. The party is concerned about the toxic work environment’s effect on morale, productivity, and the tourism sector’s effectiveness. The DA’s Haseena Ismail has urged Tourism minister Patricia de Lille to address these issues and ensure a respectful and inclusive workplace:  

# Gauteng police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of three siblings from Evaton Primary School in Sebokeng and a grade eight pupil from Tsakane Secondary School in Ekurhuleni on Monday. The Gauteng Education Department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the three siblings, who were in grades three, four, and five, died from suspected food poisoning. Mabona says at the Tsakane Secondary School, two learners allegedly ingested rat poison:

# British prime minister Keir Starmer has urged Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, saying a war was not in anyone’s interests. He had a phone call with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian about the need for all parties to de-escalate to avoid further confrontation. Fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East have been growing following the recent assassination of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. Starmer says he told Pezeshkian that there was a serious risk of miscalculation and that now was the time for calm and careful consideration.

# Olympic Games: The Court of Arbitration for Sport will not reconsider its ruling that led to the revocation of American gymnast Jordan Chiles’s bronze medal in Paris. This is despite USA Gymnastics submitting video evidence. The court upheld an appeal by the Romanian Olympic Committee that an inquiry submitted by the US team over Chiles’ score fell outside the one-minute limit for such appeals and should be disregarded. Romania’s Ana Barbosu will get the bronze medal. USA Gymnastics says it will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-23-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-315-dollars-53-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-463-dollars a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….