News 07:00

BULLETIN 15 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The NPA collaborates with the business sector to prosecute high-priority state capture cases
# Transnet is investigating a security tender awarded to Fidelity
# And an Afrobarometer survey reveals 56-percent of African youth support military rulers

# The National Prosecuting Authority is working with the business sector to prosecute state capture crimes and expedite South Africa’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force grey list. To exit the grey list, which the government hopes it will achieve by early next year, the country must successfully prosecute money laundering and terrorism financing crimes. NPA’s, Anton du Plessis, says a missing ingredient has been the ability to extract and analyse complex digital evidence:

# Transnet has launched an investigation into the awarding of a tender that resulted in the Fidelity Group being appointed an outcomes-based security service provider. Fidelity was awarded the contract to secure the Northeast Corridor, one of five contracts awarded for the five freight rail corridors last year. The African Security Congress has questioned the integrity of the bid evaluation process and awarding of the tender to Fidelity. The state-owned entity says it has zero tolerance for collusion and corruption.

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says the Road Traffic Management Corporation has misled the public about why it will not extend the validity of driver’s licence cards. The organisation’s investigation reveals that the RTMC ignored its own 2022 research recommending an extension to eight years, instead justifying its stance with a non-existent report. OUTA’s Stefanie Fick says the RTMC’s justification based on unverified health research is unfounded, with the Department of Transport confirming no such report exists: 

# The Joburg Crisis Alliance says the resignation of Kabelo Gwamanda as Johannesburg mayor highlights the urgent need for a leadership that truly prioritises the needs of residents. Johannesburg will have a new mayor tomorrow, and will likely be the current mayoral committee member for Finance Dada Morero. Joburg Crisis Alliance’s, Julius Kleynhans, says they will continue to advocate for transparent, responsive, and effective governance:

# The Afrobarometer survey has revealed that 56-percent of young Africans support military rulers, believing coups occur due to the abuse of power by elected leaders. According to News24, in contrast, only 47-percent of those aged 55-years and older share this view. The survey also shows 60-percent of young people are dissatisfied with democracy and 40-percent perceive their leaders as corrupt. This trend is linked to recent coups in the Sahel region in North-Central Africa, where dissatisfaction with democracy is prevalent. The survey included over 53-thousand interviews across 39 countries.

# Cricket: South Africa’s star player in this year’s Under 19 World Cup, Kwena Maphaka, could make his senior international debut in the three-match T20 series against the West Indies. Maphaka took 21 wickets for the Under 19s during the tournament. The fast bowler was included in the squad for the series, starting in the Caribbean later this month, while 29-year-old  Dolphins allrounder Jason Smith also received his maiden call-up to the Proteas. Smith plays for Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-293-dollars-71-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-451-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….