News 14:00

BULLETIN 18 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Municipal Demarcation Board and the IEC are to chart the path for next year’s local government elections
# Lungu’s family and the Zambian government are still deadlocked over his burial
# And rugby: The All Blacks replace the Springboks at the top of the world rankings

# The Municipal Demarcation Board will soon meet with the Electoral Commission to map the way forward for next year’s local government elections. This follows the board’s decision not to alter municipal boundaries after nationwide consultations. The IEC had given the board six months to finalise the process, which included calculating the number of wards. CEO Manye Moroka told SABC News the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill could provide communities with an appeals mechanism before resorting to courts.

# Union Giwusa says the assembly of representatives to agree on the process of the national dialogue was no more than a talk shop. President Mametlwe Sebei says the union rejects the false hope of the national dialogue. He says Giwusa will not be fooled into believing that the same forces responsible for the suffering will suddenly become the saviours or partners:

# The High Court in Pretoria has heard that a deadlock remains between former Zambian president Edgar Lungu’s family and the Zambian government over his burial site. The matter was stood down on Friday for negotiations. Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba previously ruled in favour of the state, allowing a state funeral in Zambia. However, the family insists Lungu’s dying wish was to exclude President Hakainde Hichilema. The 68-year-old died in South Africa two months ago. An appeal date is yet to be announced.

# Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, says the untimely death of a six-year-old Grade R girl learner from Letsatsing Primary Mine School in Carletonville in Gauteng is heartbreaking. The learner sustained serious injuries while boarding a learner transport bus last Friday and died in the hospital. The Gauteng Education Department has described the tragedy as a freak accident. Makaneta says the urgent need to address learner transport safety cannot be ignored:

# Rugby: For the first time in four years, New Zealand is back at the top of the world rankings, replacing South Africa. This was made possible through their 41-24 victory over Argentina in their Rugby Championship opener. The Springboks have dropped to third following their shocking 38-22 defeat to Australia after squandering a 22-point lead. Ireland is second, and France and England fourth and fifth, respectively. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson says the rankings show how tough Test rugby is:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-59-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-289-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-348-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-55-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….