News 09:00

BULLETIN 16 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The CEO of Prasa, Zolani Matthews is fired again
# ActionSA wants urgent intervention amid escalating school safety concerns
# And cricket: The T20 Women’s World Cup may be in jeopardy because of unrest in Bangladesh

# Rail Agency Prasa has fired its CEO, Zolani Matthews again. He was fired in November 2021, because he failed to disclose that he held a dual citizenship. Matthews challenged his dismissal and retired Judge Robert Nugent ruled in 2022 that he should be reinstated. However, Prasa approached the courts to have the arbitration award set aside, but last month the Labour Court ruled in Matthews’ favour. Prasa says it complied with the court ruling and attempts to reach an amicable agreement with Matthews failed, leaving it with no choice but to terminate his contract.

# The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union has reiterated its call on the government to invest in tighter security measures in schools. Community members and police are on high alert after violence erupted at two schools in Eldorado Park on Wednesday. Two learners were injured in a shooting at Willow Crescent Secondary School, while a learner was stabbed at Lancea Vale Secondary School. Sadtu’s general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, says these incidents are deeply concerning:

# ActionSA has written to the Department of Basic Education and the police, requesting the urgent deployment of additional resources at schools in Eldorado Park. This comes after violence erupted at two schools in the area on Wednesday, which left three learners injured. ActionSA’s, Dereleen James, says parents are rightly frustrated and left without confidence that sufficient protection is in place to ensure that their children are in a protected and conducive learning environment:

# The US Attorney’s Office has charged five people in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. The 54-year-old Friends star died at his Los Angeles home and a post-mortem examination found a high concentration of ketamine in his blood. This is a sedative used to treat depression or as a recreational drug. US attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, says an investigation uncovered a broad underground criminal network of drug suppliers who distributed large quantities of ketamine:

# Cricket: October’s Women’s T20 World Cup may be in jeopardy because of the political unrest in host country Bangladesh. This followed after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India last week after weeks of deadly anti-government protests. The International Cricket Council says it’s closely monitoring the situation. It has meanwhile asked India to step in to host the tournament, but that country’s governing body refused because of monsoon season and it will host the Women’s One-day International World Cup next year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 19-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-977-dollars-97-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-452-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….