News 18:00

BULLETIN 21 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Zuma is no longer a member of the ANC
# ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu has been elected as the Johannesburg council’s speaker
# And, rugby: The All Blacks captain returns for the two Tests against the Springboks

# The ANC has confirmed its former leader, Jacob Zuma, is no longer a member of the ruling party. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says this follows after he didn’t appeal his expulsion within the 21-days afforded to him. The ANC’s national disciplinary committee decided to expel him because of his support for the MK Party in May’s elections.  

# ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu has been elected as the new speaker of the Johannesburg council, replacing Margaret Arnolds. Mthembu won 180 of the 248 votes against the DA’s Nonhlanhla Sifumba. In her acceptance speech, Mthembu vowed to instill accountability and transparency, focusing on service delivery, inner-city rejuvenation, and law enforcement. She emphasised the urgency of addressing the city’s challenges:

# The Department of Correctional Services is allocating 2.4-billion-rand for inmate care programmes and 1.2-billion-rand for social reintegration in the 2024/’25 financial year. Despite budget cuts, these expenditures are crucial for addressing overcrowding and improving inmate monitoring. However, leased vehicles for monitoring parolees will be affected by budget constraints. Overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure, and issues like excessive use of force remain significant challenges. The department projects an increase in overall expenditure to 30.3-billion-rand by 2026/’27.

# Rugby: Regular All Blacks captain Scott Barrett returns from injury for the two Rugby Championship Tests against the Springboks. Prop Ethan de Groot, who impressed against the Boks in Johannesburg in 2022, is also back from injury. The two Tests, at Ellis Park on the 31st and in Cape Town a week later, should decide the championship, with the Boks currently on top of the log and the Kiwis second. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus expects a stiff challenge:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-89-cents and the euro at 19-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-38-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-274-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-504-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the judiciary today celebrated Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as he prepares to retire after 27 years on the bench. Zondo, who will step down at the end of the month, was honoured in a special Constitutional Court ceremony. During his tenure, he presided over the state capture commission and served as Judge President of the Labour Court before his appointment as Chief Justice in 2022. National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza assured Zondo Parliament will implement the state capture recommendations:

Stay tuned for more news………….