News 07:00

BULLETIN 30 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa prepares for more submissions to the International Court of Justice
# Athletics: Udeme Okon wins gold at the U20 Championships
# And a young lioness rescued in Ukraine takes her first steps on grass

# South Africa is preparing a 500-page submission for the International Court of Justice regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict, aiming to prove the genocidal reality in Gaza. President Cyril Ramaphosa stated the case will include witness testimonies to support South Africa’s assertion of genocide, aligning with the country’s commitment to the people of Palestine and its core values:

# The Council for the Advancement of the SA Constitution has become the latest organisation to call on president Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend Justice and Constitutional Development minister Thembi Simelane. The minister received a loan exceeding 500-thousand-rand from a company allegedly involved in illicit transactions with VBS Mutual Bank. Simelane, while serving as mayor of Polokwane, allegedly made two unlawful investments in VBS on behalf of the municipality. Casac’s Lawson Naidoo says each day that passes without action against the minister leads to more damage to Ramaphosa’s credibility.

# The Department of Home Affairs has initiated the digital delivery of visa waiver outcomes via email, starting with Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders. This move is part of the department’s digital transformation efforts to enhance service efficiency and reduce corruption. Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber says the digital process aims to clear a significant permitting backlog of over 306-thousand applications and will eventually extend to other visa applicants: 

# School governing bodies from 32 schools in Eldorado Park, Freedom Park, and Klipspruit West, have threatened to shut down schools for five days if Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane does not respond to their demands today. They have demanded that the MEC provide better and more visible security personnel at the 32 schools, expel alleged rogue elements, and provide psycho-social support. Two weeks ago a pupil was stabbed at Lancea Vale Secondary School in Eldorado. The SGBs say schools are being used as thoroughfares by gangsters and criminals.

# Athletics: South Africa’s Udeme Okon won the men’s 400-metre gold at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru. The 19-year-old won in a time of 45.69-seconds ahead of Americans Jayden Davis and Sidi Njie. Another South African Bayanda Walaza, who has already won gold in the men’s 100-metre, clocked the fastest time in the 200-metre semifinals with 21-seconds to make the final. His compatriot Temoso Masikane is through to the men’s long jump final today.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-75-cents and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-207-dollars-12-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-516-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

#And finally: A young lioness rescued from captivity in war-torn Ukraine has taken her first steps on grass in Kent, England. Three-year-old Yuna has been confined to a small enclosure since the war broke out over two years ago. She was traumatised when debris from a missile attack landed 300 metre from the small enclosure. Yuna arrived at the Big Cat Sanctuary earlier this month and was kept inside for a week before being allowed outside. The shelter is currently raising funds to bring four more lions from Kyiv to Kent.

Stay tuned for more news………….