News 17:00

BULLETIN 28 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Tshwane’s mayor urges ActionSA to stay committed amid the coalition uncertainty
# The Western Cape cuts over two-thousand teaching positions because of a huge budget shortfall
# And, rugby: Etzebeth is back for the Boks for the first All Blacks Test

# Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has called on ActionSA to reaffirm its support for the DA-led coalition. Brink’s appeal follows ActionSA’s absence from a key coalition government media briefing this afternoon. Brink says there is uncertainty if ActionSA will back the ANC’s motion of no confidence against him tomorrow. He emphasised the coalition’s success in improving Tshwane and hopes for continued unity:

In another development the Inkatha Freedom Party’s Ziyanda Zwane has expressed satisfaction with the DA-led coalition in Tshwane, highlighting its achievements since 2021. Zwane emphasised the IFP’s support for Brink, hoping the DA government completes its term despite mounting opposition:

# The Western Cape Education Department announced the cut of over two-thousand-400 teaching positions from next year because of a budget shortfall of 3.8-billion-rand over the next three years. The head of the department, Brent Walters, says they only received 64-percent of the cost of the public sector salary agreement and the department has to fund the rest. The departement already froze the recruitment of non-teaching staff, and spending across its directorates. Schools will receive their staff allocations for 2025 on Friday.

# South Africa’s new water infrastructure agency has received the legislative green light. This follows after president Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency Bill into law. The newly established state-owned company will manage and develop the nation’s water infrastructure and address fragmentation in water resource management. As part of Operation Vulindlela reforms, the law will expand and improve bulk water infrastructure, ensuring water security and supporting the government’s goals of poverty eradication and sustainable development.

# Rugby: Eben Etzebeth is back in the Springboks’ squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. He was initially omitted because of a knee injury. Etzebeth replaces Marco van Staden on the bench, while Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortjé will be the lock pairing in the starting team. Coach Rassie Erasmus released Steven Kitshoff, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi for Currie Cup action this weekend. Etzebeth hopes to clinch the all-time record of 128 Tests during the competition.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-77-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-896-dollars-91-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-506-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….