News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SA Tourism Services Association criticises the dissolution of the SA Tourism board
# Donald Trump says he’s spoken to Putin since last Monday’s talks with Zelensky
# And cricket: Dane van Niekerk is back in contention for a spot in the SA Women’s World Cup squad

# The South African Tourism Services Association says the dissolution of the SA Tourism board undermines governance, stability, and the international reputation of our industry. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille dissolved the board last week after a special meeting, where she claims an unlawful resolution was taken, specifically the suspension of CEO Nombulelo Guliwe for misconduct. The association says the minister’s actions reveal a deeply troubling and sustained pattern of ministerial overreach, interference, and inconsistency. 

# Rise Mzansi has expressed concern over the rise in violent crime across the country. This comes after deadly shootings in Cape Town and Mpumalanga, the fatal stabbing of a learner in Gauteng, and the discovery of five bodies with gunshot wounds at a mine in North West. Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana calls for tougher action against illegal firearms, stronger crime intelligence, and an overhaul of the police and justice system:

# Sasol has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa for an electricity trading licence. The move comes as Nersa finalises trading rules and Eskom challenges licences granted to domestic traders. Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi says the licence would give Sasol flexibility as both a major buyer and future investor in renewables. The group has already signed deals for 920-megawatts of wind and solar and aims for two-thousand-megawatts by 2030.

# The DA says Gauteng Government Departments owe municipalities over 1.8-billion-rand, worsening service delivery. The DA’s Ruhan Robinson says municipalities are unable to pay Eskom and Rand Water, leaving residents with power cuts, dry taps, pothole-ridden roads, poor sanitation, and irregular refuse removal. Robinson is demanding urgent enforcement of financial accountability laws to ensure debts are paid:

# US president Donald Trump says he has spoken to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, since last week’s meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House. Last week, Russia launched 574 drones and 40 missiles on Ukraine in one of the heaviest bombardments in weeks. Ukraine attacked Russian power and energy facilities over the weekend. Trump says he believes that Putin does want the war to be over:

# Cricket: Former South African captain Dane van Niekerk has come out of international retirement and is in contention for a spot in the Women’s World Cup. The 32-year-old, who retired from national duty in March 2023, has been included in a 20-member Proteas training squad. Van Niekerk says time away has reminded her just how much she has missed representing the country. She says she is fully committed to giving everything to once again have that opportunity. The overall squad must be cut to 15 for the World Cup.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-59-cents and the euro at 20-rand-48-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-875-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-377-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….