News 15:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 23 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An analyst warns the EFF-MK Party turmoil may disrupt the opposition in Parliament 
# Solidarity calls for an early census after the 2022 data is deemed unusable
# And, motorsport: Jack Doohan is Alpine’s new F1 driver from 2025

# Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast warns that the fallout between EFF leader Julius Malema and MK Party National Organiser Floyd Shivambu could destabilise opposition politics in Parliament. Shivambu’s recent defection from the EFF to the MK Party, amid internal tensions, may lead to further defections. Breakfast told the SABC this may complicate the dynamics within the progressive caucus:

# Trade union Solidarity is calling for an early national census in 2026 following the admission that large parts of the 2022 census data are unusable. The data issues, including inaccuracies in employment and demographic statistics, have raised serious concerns about the competence of Statistics South Africa and the reliability of future projections. Solidarity’s Connie Mulder calls for the removal of Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke as the flawed data impacts future planning:

# Western Cape MEC for Agriculture, Ivan Meyer, has announced the resumption of direct horse exports to the European Union after 14 years. The announcement follows after a consignment of 32 horses left for the EU. This milestone is a result of the extensive collaboration between the department and other stakeholders. Meyer emphasised that this development is crucial for boosting the local economy and job creation. Meyer anticipates further exports starting in mid-September.

# Motorsport: Australian Jack Doohan has been handed a full-time seat with Alpine for the 2025 Formula One season, teaming up with Frenchman Pierre Gasly. The 21-year-old, who is the team’s reserve driver, is the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan. He replaces Esteban Ocon, who is heading to Haas. Doohan finished third in last year’s Formula Two Championship. He says this is a dream come true and he will do everything in his power to succeed both on and off the track.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-93-cents and the euro at 19-rand-93-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-859-dollars-78-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-499-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

# And, finally: The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is commemorating whistleblower Babita Deokaran on the third anniversary of her assassination. The former acting chief financial official of the Gauteng Health Department, was a key witness in a corruption probe involving the procurement of 850-million-rand’s personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic at Tembisa Hospital. She was shot outside her Johannesburg home. Six men were sentenced for her murder, but the masterminds remain at large. Six of nine officials who have since been suspended are yet to be held accountable.

Stay tuned for more news………….