News 13:00

BULLETIN 16 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Justice Department disburses 352-million-rand in Marikana reparation
# A ballerina is jailed for 12 years in Russia after donating 930-rand to a charity supporting Ukraine
# And, a Kenyan city is forced to remove statues of famous athletes after a backlash

# The solicitor-general in the Department of Justice, Fhedzisani Pandelani, has confirmed that 352-million-rand has been disbursed to families affected by the Marikana massacre. This update comes on the 12th anniversary of the tragedy, where 34 people were killed, and 78 injured at the Lonmin platinum mine near Rustenburg in North West. Pandelani affirms government’s commitment to concluding all litigation and reparation matters arising from the deadly wage strike:

# The Government Employees Pension Fund is preparing for the implementation of the two-pot retirement system starting next month. Members are urged to update their personal and banking information and ensure it matches records with Home Affairs to avoid delays in processing claims. Updated benefit statements will be available on the GEPF self-service app. Members are encouraged to register on the app for seamless access to their benefits.  

# Cosatu says the Southern African Development Community region is facing a tipping point, with the deepening levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Zimbabwe is preparing to host the 44th Sadec summit of heads of state and government this weekend. Cosatu’s Zanele Sabela says heads of state must focus on the urgency of accountability on the goals of democracy, human rights and inclusive development as enshrined in the founding treaty of Sadec:

# A woman has been jailed for 12 years in Russia after donating the equivalent of 930-rand to a charity supporting Ukraine. US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina was accused of treason when she was arrested in February, while visiting Russia. Investigators searched her mobile phone and found she made the donation on the first day of Russia’s invasion. The 33-year-old amateur ballerina admitted the charge at a closed trial in the city.  Her case was heard by the same court that convicted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage in July.

# A Kenyan city was forced to remove statues of some of the country’s famous athletes following an uproar over the bad quality. Two of the statues purportedly portrayed one-thousand-500-meter world record holder Faith Kipyegon and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge. They were erected for an event during which Eldoret, known as the “home of champions” received city status. Critics described them as a disgrace and a joke, with one saying the pieces represent Kenya’s collective mediocrity as a country.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-XX-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-545-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-463-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….