News 16:00

BULLETIN 26 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa urges against South Africa’s reliance on fossil fuels to industrialise
# ActionSA rejects a proposal for the recruitment of foreign nationals to the JMPD
# And, Paralympic Games: Jackie Chan will carry the torch in Paris before the opening ceremony

# President Cyril Ramaphosa warns that reliance on fossil fuels to industrialise is causing a threat to South Africa. He delivered the keynote address at the Municipal Just Energy Transition Conference in Johannesburg. Running today and tomorrow, the conference brings together mayors, technical managers, and municipal managers from across the country. Ramaphosa says there will be economic and environmental implications if the country continues to produce goods with fossil intensive energy:

Meanwhile, the International Finance Corporation is ready to support South Africa in expanding its electricity grid through private sector participation. According to IFC Africa vice president Sérgio Pimenta, the World Bank Group agency has been advising the government on models for independent transmission projects to address grid backlogs. South Africa needs to invest in grid expansion, and the IFC plans to provide direct funding and mobilise private investment. Pimenta stresses the importance of a collaborative approach between public and private sectors to achieve these goals.

# ActionSA in Johannesburg has expressed concern at comments made by mayor Dada Morero over the recruitment of foreign nationals to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department. The mayor suggested that the regional executive committee consider the recruitment of properly documented foreign nationals to work for the JMPD to bridge existing language barriers. ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu says this proposal is an insult to the thousands of South Africans who aspire to work for the JMPD, particularly the thousands of neglected police reservists:

# Paralympic Games: Popular Hollywood actor Jackie Chan will be one of the final torchbearers before the opening ceremony in Paris on Wednesday. The 70-year-old martial arts expert will join others such as French actress Elsa Zylberstein and local dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied. The ceremony will also take place outside of the main stadium, the Stade de France, and will include a parade down the world-famous Champs-Elysees to the Place de la Concorde in the centre of the French capital.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-74-cents and the euro at 19-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-856-dollars-53-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-525-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

# And finally, as Women’s Month ends, One Billion Rising SA stresses the need for genuine action against gender-based violence rather than empty promises. Activist Tanya Bippert criticises government shortcomings, including forensic backlogs, understaffed services, and budget cuts, which hinder efforts to combat GBV. She highlighs the tragic murder of 16-year-old Caledon learner Deveney Nel as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis. Bippert urges immediate and meaningful interventions to protect women, citing that it requires sustained resources from all levels of government.

Stay tuned for more news………….