News 15:00

BULLETIN 13 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA presses Ramaphosa for clarity on the national dialogue’s funding and process
# Eskom spent over five-billion-rand to burn diesel to protect the grid
# And rugby: The Sharks stick to their young players for the Currie Cup clash with the Griquas

# Build One South Africa’s leader, Mmusi Maimane, has urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to provide urgent clarity on the funding and process of the national dialogue, set to start on Friday. In a letter, Maimane raised concerns about whether the dialogue will remain truly citizen-led, warning that without transparency, inclusivity, and accountability, the process risks failure. BOSA’s Roger Solomons implored Ramaphosa to ensure the dialogue reflects the voices of all South Africans.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has welcomed the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments at the African Union–AIP Water Investment Summit in Cape Town. The initiative will scale up Africa’s Water Investment Programme into a Global Water Investment Platform, mobilising leadership, finance and innovation. Ramaphosa stressed that the council will track progress across major forums, and turn water from a crisis sector into an opportunity sector:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says Eskom uses diesel strategically to stabilise the grid during peak winter demand or unit failures. He confirmed that about 5.8-billion- of the 12-billion-rand diesel budget has been spent thus far, which is less than last winter’s 14.8-billion-rand for the same period. He says improved plant performance has created surplus generation at times, giving the economy space to grow on the back of a stable electricity supply:

# Rugby: Sharks coach JP Pietersen is sticking with his young team for Friday’s Currie Cup clash with the Griquas in Kimberley. Junior Springbok Bathobele Hlekani gets his first start of the season at flank after making his debut in last year’s Currie Cup at lock. Other changes in the forwards see Bryce Calvert returning at hooker, Deon Slabbert at lock and Matt Romao at flank. SA Under 20 star Ceano Everson is the scrumhalf, while Paschal Ekeji and SA Sevens star, Christie Grobbelaar, are the new wings.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-50-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 120-thousand-652-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-360-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Namibia has welcomed a delegation of South African Police Service women as part of Women’s Month celebrations. The visit, set to end on Friday, highlights strong security ties between the neighbouring countries and honours the 1956 women’s march against apartheid pass laws. Namibia’s police commissioner, Johanna Ngondo, says the programme includes station visits, a Women’s Month conference in Windhoek, and community engagement, aimed at improving service delivery:

Stay tuned for more news………….