News 13:00

BULLETIN 26 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Justice Ministry will brief the media on the delay of the Madlanga commission’s hearings
# The Western Cape government condemns the deadly taxi violence
# And cycling: Team Visma starts Vuelta a España’s stage three despite the theft of 18 bikes

# The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development will soon brief the media on the postponement of the Madlanga commission’s hearings. The inquiry into KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s claims of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the justice system was set to start on the first of next month. However, the department has not yet secured the infrastructure needed. A new starting date will be set once the requirements are in place.

# The Western Cape government has condemned the recent deadly violence linked to the taxi industry. Nine people, including six taxi drivers and three passengers, were shot in two separate incidents in Philippi East and Khayelitsha yesterday and three of them died. Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, says the safety of commuters, operators, and the broader public is non-negotiable. He adds the provincial government will not tolerate the collapse of peace efforts in the taxi industry:

# Cape Forum has expressed deep concern over a video showing a young girl making a racist remark toward fellow learners at Knysna High School in the Southern Cape. Chairperson Heindrich Wyngaard condemned the act but praised principal Mark Mosdell’s transparent response. Cape Forum will offer cultural-sensitivity workshops for senior learners, emphasising the importance of addressing racial prejudice, promoting social cohesion, and ensuring incidents like this are met with seriousness, especially ahead of Heritage Month celebrations.

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA is concerned about the state’s limited capacity to effectively control the foot and mouth disease outbreak, which has been reported in at least four provinces. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the movement of livestock without adequate control measures exacerbates the situation, while the economic pressure on farmers continues to grow. He says the current regulatory framework prevents the private sector from becoming involved in the production and distribution of vaccines:

# Cycling: Eighteen bikes with an estimated total value of around five-million-rand were stolen from a truck belonging to Dutch team Visma-Lease a Bike, currently participating in the La Vuelta a España in Spain. A spokesperson says mechanics have managed to secure and build the equipment needed for the team to start the third stage today. This mass theft comes hard on the heels of Visma leader Jonas Vingegaard’s victory and claiming of the red jersey in Limone Piemonte on stage two yesterday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-63-cents and the euro at 20-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-371-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-373-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-44-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….