News 06:00

BULLETIN 28 August 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Mashatile urges better government cooperation
# An Israeli hostage is rescued in southern Gaza
# And Paralympic Games: Kat Swanepoel and Mpumelelo Mhlongo will carry the flag for Team SA

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has called on the National Council of Provinces to enhance executive accountability by fostering cooperation among the three government spheres. Delivering the keynote address at the Three Sphere Planning Session, Mashatile emphasised the need for unified planning, and implementation to tackle poverty and inequality. He urged public participation in policymaking and holding the executive accountable to Parliament:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a new law to enhance South Africa’s water security by establishing the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency. This agency will focus on expanding and managing the country’s water infrastructure, addressing current challenges, and attracting private investment. The legislation is part of broader reforms under Operation Vulindlela, a joint initiative between the Presidency and the National Treasury, focused on modernising critical sectors like water, electricity, and transport. 

# Former president Jacob Zuma’s arms deal corruption case returns to the High Court in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow – 20 years after he was first charged. Eighty-one-year-old Zuma and French arms supplier Thales are facing multiple charges, including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and racketeering, that stem from the country’s multi-billion-rand arms procurement deal of the 1990s. The National Prosecuting Authority says they are ready to proceed with the trial, but can never rule out the possibility of Zuma mounting another appeal to delay his day in court.

# Residents in Tshwane are advised to prepare for potential water interruptions as Rand Water conducts urgent upgrades on bulk meters. The maintenance, scheduled from today until Monday between 8 AM and 1 PM, will affect various areas on different days. Rand Water plans to fill reservoirs where possible before the work begins. City of Tshwane’s spokesperson Lindela Mashigo urged residents to use water sparingly to minimise inconvenience: 

# Israeli hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, was rescued in a joint Israel Defence Forces and Shin Bet domestic security service operation in the southern Gaza Strip. The 52-year-old, who spent 326 days in captivity, was kidnapped by Hamas during last year’s seventh October attack on Israel. Alkadi, the eighth hostage rescued by Israeli forces since the start of the war in Gaza, is in stable condition in a hospital. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they are working relentlessly to return all of the hostages through negotiations and rescue operations. 

# Paralympic Games: Swimmer Kat Swanepoel and sprinter Mpumelelo Mhlongo will be Team South Africa’s flagbearers during tonight’s opening ceremony in Paris. Both are regarded as medal contenders. Swanepoel won gold and silver at last year’s World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester. The Games started as an informal gathering for British World War Two veterans during the Olympic Games in London in 1948 and grew into one of the world’s biggest sports events. The opening ceremony will include a parade down the world-famous Champs-Élysées.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-71-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-582-dollars-79-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-525-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….