News 09:00

BULLETIN 11 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA asks for the full details of the financial aid scheme’s legal review
# Cosatu says it will participate in the National Dialogue
# And an Israeli airstrike kills five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

# The DA says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s legal review comes far too late for the thousands of students who have already endured evictions, unsafe living conditions, and severe academic disruption. NSFAS is currently undertaking a comprehensive legal review of its student accommodation management processes and the involvement of third-party partners. The scheme reportedly owes private accommodation providers 62-million-rand in unpaid accommodation fees. The DA’s Matlhodi Maseko says NSFAS must disclose the full scope of the review:

# Cosatu says whilst the Presidency is correct to push forward with the convening of the National Dialogue this week, it will do well to hear the scepticism of many. Organisations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, have withdrawn from the dialogue, citing concerns including a lack of budget and insufficient time to prepare. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says ultimately the dialogue must help put South Africa back firmly on the path to renewal:

# Police have offered a 150-thousand cash reward for information on the whereabouts of Jabulani Moyo, an awaiting trial prisoner who shot and killed two detectives in Roodepoort, Gauteng, on Friday. At the time of the incident, the two officers were transporting Moyo from the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court back to prison. In Mpumalanga, Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni was killed on Saturday while responding to a burglary incident. National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola says in both incidents, maximum resources have been mobilised to locate the suspects:

# Five Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital. Anas al-Sharif, who was one of Al Jazeera’s most recognisable faces in Gaza, along with Mohammed Qreiqeh and three cameramen, were in a tent for journalists at the hospital’s main gate when it was targeted. The Israel Defence Force admitted to the strike, claiming Al-Sharif had served as the head of a terrorist cell within Hamas. Al Jazeera says this targeted assassination is yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.

# Tennis: Five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz got his Cincinnati Open campaign off to a winning start. The Spaniard battled Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, in the second round. 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia suffered a 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 defeat by Australian Adam Walton. Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur and British number two Cameron Norrie were also knocked out. In the women’s draw, American Coco Gauff cruised past China’s Wang Xinyu, 6-3, 6-2, while Italy’s Jasmine Paolini beat Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-6, 7-6.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-71-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-775-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-378-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….