News 13:00

BULLETIN 6 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Ministry of Defence refutes claims that minister Angie Motshekga refuses to appear before Parliament
# The Gauteng Health Department is committed to preventing the further spread of measles
# And rugby: Ireland keeps the legal tackle height lower after a decrease in injury rates

# The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans strongly refutes claims that minister Angie Motshekga is refusing to appear before Parliament. The DA claims the minister has been shielded from accounting for the Democratic Republic of Congo deployment calamity, and the 813-million-rand that is unaccounted for by the South African National Defence Force. The ministry’s spokesperson, Onicca Kwakwa, says these claims misrepresent the minister’s proven record of accountability and transparency:

Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema has called on Parliament’s newly established ad hoc committee, probing corruption and political interference in SAPS, to summon prisoners who can shed some light on crime syndicates. The committee held its first meeting on Tuesday, where members elected ANC’s Soviet Lekganyane as the chairperson. Malema says the terms of reference should include calling prisoners with the relevant information to appear before the committee:

# Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, says her department remains committed to preventing the further spread of measles by ensuring equitable access to routine and campaign-based immunisation services. The mass measles-rubella vaccination campaign is targeting over four-million children across Gauteng and will run until 12 September. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says the vaccine is safe, free, and effective in protecting children from severe illness:

# Rugby: Irish teams will still have to keep the legal tackle height below the sternum in the 2025/26 season after preliminary data showed a decrease in overall injury rates during the previous two seasons. The Irish Rugby Football Union joined World Rugby’s trial to lower the tackle height in the local game two years ago, aimed at reducing especially head impact exposure and the risk of concussion. England and Scotland’s rugby unions have also introduced similar rules about tackle heights.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-85-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-131-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-365-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-29-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The DA in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature has welcomed the election of member Imran Keeka as the first additional member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association KZN Branch. The association supports and promotes democracy, good governance and human rights within Commonwealth countries, by fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among its member parliaments and legislatures. The DA says Keeka’s vast institutional knowledge, along with his exemplary service on numerous portfolio committees, all bode well in his new position.

Stay tuned for more news………….