News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party joins mounting calls for minister McKenzie to be removed
# Doctors Without Borders is concerned by the denial of healthcare services to foreign nationals
# And Donald Trump places the Washington police under federal control

# The MK Party is calling on Gayton McKenzie to be removed as the minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture. Social media posts from over a decade ago have resurfaced, in which McKenzie allegedly used derogatory language towards black people. The minister insists the racial tweets circulating online were generated by artificial intelligence and are not his. The MK Party says South Africa cannot afford a government infiltrated by those who appear to be entangled in or enabling criminals’ interests or racist agendas.

# Doctors Without Borders says it is concerned by the persistent and systematic physical blocking of non-South Africans from accessing healthcare, particularly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. In recent months, members of Operation Dudula have been blocking healthcare services to foreign nationals at state facilities. Doctors Without Borders’ Claire Waterhouse told Newzroom Afrika that anti-migrant groups are either stationed at the gate or inside health facilities, and are demanding identification from every person who tries to enter, and turning away those they deem non-South African:

# South Africa is supporting a legally binding global treaty to reduce plastic waste across its full life cycle. This as Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Dion George leads a South African delegation at the second part of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee session on Plastic Pollution in Geneva. The treaty aims to align with climate and biodiversity goals, promoting global cooperation and sustainability. The minister stressed urgent action is needed as plastic pollution threatens communities, economies, and ecosystems.

# US president Donald Trump has placed the Washington DC Police Department under direct federal control and deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital. He says this move is aimed at restoring order in the city, describing it as one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world. This is despite violent crime in Washington having fallen sharply since 2023. Trump, who declared a public safety emergency, says the situation in the city is complete and total lawlessness:

# Tennis: Defending Champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus battled past Britain’s Emma Raducanu, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, to book her spot in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. The world number one will meet Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the round-of-16 after the Spaniard beat American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-1. Poland’s Iga Swiatek got a walkover into the round of 16. In the men’s draw, American Taylor Fritz overcame Italian Lorenzo Sonego 7-6, 7-5 to reach the fourth round. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-967-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-351-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….