News 11:00

BULLETIN 23 August 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister De Lille appoints an interim board for SA Tourism
# The Police seize 226 firearms in a Krugersdorp crackdown
# And AfriForum warns of life-threatening wildfire risks this weekend

# Tourism minister Patricia de Lille has appointed a six-member interim board to oversee South African Tourism, following the dissolution of the previous board over an allegedly unlawful suspension of CEO Nombulelo Guliwe. Mzamo Masito was named chairperson, with Kholeka Zama as deputy. The department’s spokesperson, Aldrin Sampear, says the panel brings diverse expertise in finance, law, and tourism. He says the minister will open nominations for permanent board members:

# Gauteng police, through Operation Vuyisa, have seized 226 firearms and arrested an official linked to a private security company in Krugersdorp. Authorities confirmed the company was operating in contravention of the Firearms Control Act. It is alleged that some of the firearms are linked to criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists. Police spokesperson Amanda van Zyl says investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected as compliance checks on security companies intensify:

# AfriForum warns of life-threatening wildfire risks across seven provinces this weekend due to extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds. The fire danger index for Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, North West, and Northern Cape is at red level. AfriForum’s Tarien Cooks urges residents to avoid open fires, prepare firefighting equipment, and ensure water supplies are ready:

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation and the World Meteorological Organisation have warned of growing health risks for workers due to extreme heat. In a joint release, they note productivity drops by two-to-three-percent for every degree above 20-degrees Celsius, with risks including heatstroke, dehydration, and kidney failure. The report states that nearly half the world’s population suffers heat-related impacts. They urge governments, employers, and unions to adopt occupational heat-health policies to protect workers and strengthen resilience against climate change.

# And sports news:

# Golf: Jonathan Broomhead claimed his fourth Sunshine Tour title in the space of 16 months after beating Jean-Paul Strydom on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff for the Sunbet Challenge at Wingate Park Country Club on Friday. Broomhead and Strydom finished regulation play tied for the lead on 13-under-par after their respective final rounds of 68 and 71. Broomhead’s victory moves him into second place on the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit. Herman Loubser, the current lead on the Order of Merit, finished tied 13th on eight under par.

# And rugby: Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Jesse Kriel were adamant on Friday that the team had to bounce back strongly today after their disappointing performance against the Wallabies last week. They are expecting a massive onslaught from the visitors and described the feeling in the camp early this week as being at a funeral after going down 38-22 against the Wallabies in Johannesburg. Kriel added that they have worked hard to rectify the things they got wrong. Stick said every game counts, and they want to bounce back and keep making South Africa proud.

Stay tuned for more news………….