News 17:00

BULLETIN 27 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Stats SA reports 2.6 million households were hit by burglaries in the past five years
# The Justice Department cracks down on misconduct, dismissing 27 officials 
# And, soccer: A union introduces a guide to help female players manage their pregnancy and playing careers

# Statistics South Africa has revealed that 2.6-million households experienced housebreaking or burglary in the past five-years, a 12-percent increase from 2.3-million. Delivering the 2023-’24 Victims of Crime report, statistician-general, Risenga Maluleke, noted that 459-thousand households faced home robberies, a slight decrease of one-percent. He confirmed that 257-thousand households reported experiencing assault during the same period:

# The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has dismissed 27 officials for various forms of misconduct, including fraud, theft, and sexual harassment. This decision is part of a broader effort to address 81 appeals related to misconduct. Out of these appeals, 31 have been resolved, with 27 dismissals upheld and four sanctions reduced. The Department continues to strengthen internal controls and is committed to maintaining a professional and transparent working environment. 

# The Public Servants Association says the Department of Public Enterprises’ staff future is unclear after state-owned enterprises were reassigned to various ministries. Eskom has been assigned to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy and the South African Airways is under Transport. The PSA’s Claude Naicker asks for clarity in staff transitions as the National State Enterprise Bill is finalised:

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta says he is shocked and deeply disturbed by a recent photograph of two learners of Plumstead High School in Cape Town that has gone viral on social media. The two were photographed brandishing weapons and alcohol while dressed in their uniform. The Western Cape Education Department says the matter is being investigated and the learners have been suspended. Makaneta says this behaviour cannot be tolerated at schools:

# Soccer: International players’ union FIF-PRO introduced a guide to help female players, their families and team staff to better understand and manage pregnancy and their playing careers after childbirth. FIF-PRO realised there was a lack of knowledge within the professional game while a woman’s peak fertility often significantly overlaps with her best sporting years. Spokesperson Alex Culvin says there’s a belief in all sport that a woman can’t be a mother and an athlete simultaneously. He describes the guide as a game-changer.

# And, 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-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-359-dollars-25-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-508-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….