News 06:00

BULLETIN 19 August 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA secures a debate on electricity tariffs
# Ukraine bombs a second Russian bridge
# And mixed martial arts: Dricus du Plessis’ next fight might be in South Africa

# The DA has secured a Parliamentary debate on Eskom’s proposed electricity tariff hike. National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza confirmed the debate, which will scrutinise the legality of Eskom’s make-up tariff to recover an extra eight-billion-rand next year. DA’s Kevin Mileham emphasised the party’s commitment to fighting the tariff increases, warning of severe financial burdens on struggling South Africans:

# National and provincial government departments owe municipalities over 18.6-billion-rand for rates, taxes, and services. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana revealed this in a parliamentary response to a question by the EFF. Public Works, Education, Health and Agriculture are the departments that owe the most. Minister Godongwana says Gauteng municipalities are owed the most with over 3.5-billion-rand, while Western Cape municipalities are owed the least with 345-million-rand.

# A 40-year-old man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday upon his arrival from Zambia. He is believed to be one of the ringleaders behind a kidnapping-for-ransom syndicate targeting businessmen in South Africa. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says the Zambian national is specifically linked to the kidnapping of a 63-year-old businessman, who was kidnapped in Helderkruin, Roodepoort last month:

# The Ukrainian Air Force says it has attacked a second bridge in Russia’s Kursk region. Footage posted by Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk shows an attack on a bridge in Zvannoe over the Seym River. This is the same river over which another bridge was destroyed earlier this week. Ukraine’s destruction of infrastructure in the area is believed to be an attempt to hamper Russian supply lines or reinforcements. Oleshchuk says the Ukrainian air force continues to deprive Russia of its logistical capabilities with accurate air strikes, which significantly affects the course of hostilities.

# Mixed martial arts: Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, says they are negotiating a deal for Dricus du Plessis’ next UFC title defence fight to be held in South Africa. Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title, after a fourth-round submission win over Nigerian-New Zealander, Israel Adesanya, in Australia. The department’s spokesperson, Cassidy Rangata-Jacobs, says a delegation was dispatched to Perth to meet with UFC management to discuss the matter:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-85-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-739-dollars-5-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-504-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

# And finally: French actor Alain Delon has died at the age of 88 after suffering from ill health. The star was known for his roles in films such as Purple Noon in 1960, The Leopard in 1963, and Le Samourai in 1967. According to a statement he passed away peacefully at his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family. The actor had been in poor health since suffering a stroke in 2019 and rarely left his estate. French president Emmanuel Macron said on X Delon was not just a star, but a French monument.

Stay tuned for more news………….