News 12:00

BULLETIN 13 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Transnet requires over 12-billion-rand to revive its coal export line
#  Minister Mchunu vows to root out corruption within the Police Service
# And, the Meryl Streep Centre for Performing Artists has been officially opened

# Transnet needs 12.2-billion-rand and five years to upgrade equipment to revive the performance of its main coal export line. According to an internal report, coal shipments dropped to a three-decade low of 48-million tonnes last year. This was due to inefficiencies, including a lack of locomotives and infrastructure faults. Theft, vandalism, and signalling issues also contribute to the challenges. Transnet aims to increase exports to 78-million tonnes, but warns that doing nothing could reduce volumes to 38-million tonnes.

# Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu says work is continuing to root out corruption wherever it may exist within the South African Police Service. This comes after four police members attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit, alongside an employee of First National Bank, were recently arrested in Gauteng for alleged corruption, extortion, kidnapping, and assault. The minister’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, says as a matter of urgency, internal disciplinary processes will be instituted against the police members:

# The Free Market Foundation says the National Health Insurance has been the perfect scapegoat for the ANC to avoid accountability for the horrid mismanagement of public health services. Last month, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that certain provisions of the National Health Insurance Act are unconstitutional. The ruling relates to the certificate of need, dictating where private doctors could practice. The foundation’s Mike Settas says the certificate would have ensured private doctors become servants of the state:

# Soccer: The hearing into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations could reportedly be brought forward to next month. The reigning Premier League champions were charged last year for breaking financial fair play rules over nine years between 2009 and 2018. During this time the club won the Premier League three times. A hearing was set for November. City has denied all charges. According to reports, if the hearing is moved to mid-to-late September, the verdict will likely be delivered early next year.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-18-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-29-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-304-dollars-61-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-461-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation has officially opened its doors to its brand new Los Angeles headquarters, the Meryl Streep Centre for Performing Artists. The state-of-the-art facility is in honour of the legendary actress, the most philanthropic donor in the foundation’s nearly 40-year history. The foundation says the facility is a hub designed to help SAG-AFTRA artists fine-tune their skills and advance their careers. Other spaces within the centre have been named after other actors and actresses who have been similarly supportive, including Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Stay tuned for more news………….