News 12:00

BULLETIN 15 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The search for the missing pilot after a Durban air show crash continues
# Solidarity demands the immediate dismissal of the Defence Force’s chief over his trip to Iran
# And the Kruger National Park confirms Casper the white lion is safe

# The National Sea Rescue Institute says the search is continuing for a pilot who is missing following a plane crash in Durban yesterday. The light aircraft was part of an airshow at North Beach near Suncoast Casino when it crashed into the ocean. The 61-year-old pilot from Johannesburg is said to have been alone in the aircraft. NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, says since the early hours of this morning, they have continued to recover wreckage washed ashore overnight:

# Solidarity is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to fire South African National Defence Force chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, over his controversial trip to Iran. During a meeting in Tehran, Maphwanya and Iran’s Army commander, Major General Amir Hatami, reportedly commended their countries’ shared goal of combating global arrogance and aggressive colonial approaches. Maphwanya also denounced Israel’s bombing of Palestinians in Gaza. Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans says strengthening ties with Iran jeopardises economic and diplomatic relations with Western-aligned countries:

# The FW de Klerk Foundation says the US report on human rights in South Africa should be a wake-up call for the government of national unity and the ANC. Much of the report by the US State Department is based on the enactment of the Expropriation Act, which states that the human rights situation in the country has worsened. The foundation says at the heart of this is that the country faces a serious breakdown in law and order, and urgent steps must be taken to restore order.

# Rugby: Scott Barrett is back from injury to lead New Zealand in their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Córdoba tomorrow. He will start alongside Fabian Holland in the second row in one of nine changes to the team that finished the July series against France in Hamilton. Tupou Vaa’i also returns to action after missing the Hamilton Test through injury. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson is expecting a tough championship:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-53-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-129-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-340-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

# And finally: SANParks says the Kruger National Park’s beloved white lion, Casper, is safe and in good condition, despite some concerns about his health. There were suggestions that Casper, who frequents the area around Satara, may be suffering from anthrax or was possibly bitten by a snake. SANParks’ Reynold Thakhuli says Casper was located and examined, resulting in those two factors being ruled out, but he has injuries above his right eye and in his mouth, which suggest that he was likely bitten by another lion:

Stay tuned for more news………….