News 18:00

BULLETIN 14 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An aircraft crashes into the sea during a Durban airshow
# ActionSA demands an urgent hearing over the Defence Force chief’s diplomatic fiasco in Iran
# And rugby: The Wallabies pick James O’Connor at flyhalf and opt for a 6-2 split on the bench

# The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed an aircraft crashed at the Durban North Beach Airshow near Suncoast Casino today. The incident occurred this afternoon when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft, performing its final display, plunged into the sea. Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement responded immediately. The authority says investigations continue into the cause of the tragic accident. This comes after a pilot died when his plane hit the ground at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha Bay in March.

# ActionSA says a diplomatic blunder by South African National Defence Force chief Rudzani Maphwanya in Iran shows deep divisions in the government of national unity’s foreign policy. The party’s Matthew George has called for an urgent parliamentary hearing to determine whether Maphwanya acted on his own or under instruction by supporting Iran on Gaza and pushing for closer ties:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says a new South African delegation will be sent to the White House to negotiate better trade terms amid US tariffs threatening 100-thousand auto industry jobs, particularly in the Eastern Cape. Speaking at the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers show in Gqeberha, Mashatile warned that the 25-percent tariff on vehicles and components could devastate the sector, with major automakers like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Isuzu at risk:

# Rugby: Veteran flyhalf James O’Connor has been recalled by Australia for the Rugby Championship opener against title-holders South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday. The 35-year-old last represented the Wallabies three years ago. Another veteran, Nic White, is at scrumhalf. Coach Joe Schmidt added loose forward Nick Champion de Crespigny to the bench, consisting of six forwards and only two backs. It is speculated that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus may now also change his bench by adding RG Snyman.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-322-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-345-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

# And we end with sad news: Former Springbok player and Western Province coach Dawie Snyman has passed away at the age of 76 years. According to News24, Snyman, who played ten tests for South Africa between 1972 and ’77, was diagnosed with leukemia last month. He is remembered for the 1976 All Blacks series victory and five straight Currie Cup titles with Western Province from 1982 to ’86. Rugby runs deep in his family, with his brother Jackie also a former Springbok and his nephew Dawie currently the Stormers’ assistant coach.

Stay tuned for more news………….