News 16:00

BULLETIN 8 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Mashatile affirms traditional leaders are key to inclusive governance
# Home Affairs launches phase two of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme
# And swimming: Adam Peaty is motivated ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says traditional leaders are vital partners in governance, especially in rural communities. Speaking at a dialogue session with traditional and Khoi San leaders in Pretoria, Mashatile emphasised their role as custodians of culture and tradition, beyond the term limits of elected officials. He highlighted that their leadership is rooted in ancestry, not elections, urging full inclusion in decisions on customary law to ensure effective community development:

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says former South African Airways employee and Chartered Accountant Sedzani Mudau has been appointed as the new chairperson of the SAA board. The board will focus on expanding the fleet from 20 to over 50 aircraft by 2030, strengthening governance, and maintaining financial independence. In a media briefing, Creecy praised the interim board for guiding SAA from business rescue in 2021 to profitability, now operating 17 routes, including three international destinations:

Meanwhile, minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, has announced the launch of phase two of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme. Schreiber says this will add another 45 vetted and approved tour operators to the existing 65 operators that have participated in the programme since its launch in February this year. The minister says since the launch of the scheme’s online portal just six months ago, it has already succeeded in bringing an additional 25-thousand-024 tourists from India and China to South Africa.

# The 155-megawatt Mpumalanga wind energy project has now reached financial close. This follows a 15-year power purchase agreement signed between Seriti Green and Energy Exchange of Southern Africa. The five-billion-rand project will incorporate 25 wind turbines and will produce some 525 gigawatt hours yearly once in full production. Seriti Green CEO Peter Venn says this agreement marks a new chapter for South Africa’s energy market, whereby independent power producers and traders are able to deliver reliable, clean power with long-term impact.

# Swimming: Three-time Olympic gold medal winner Adam Peaty says he needs to put on a good showing at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as he aims to put himself back in the mix for another shot at Olympic glory in 2028. The 30-year-old Englishman took a break from the sport after the Paris Olympics last year to prioritise his mental health and well-being. Peaty told BBC Sport he feels motivated again:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-71-cents and the euro at 20-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-606-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-390-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….