News 12:00

BULLETIN 27 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Institute of Race Relations says South Africa has a golden opportunity to revise its electoral system
# Catholic and Greek Orthodox clergy will remain in Gaza City despite Israel’s advance
# And Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged

# The Institute of Race Relations says South Africa’s current electoral system is not fit for purpose. The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel is conducting a comprehensive review of the system and is due to submit its recommendations to Parliament at the end of next month. The IRR’s Marius Roodt says the electoral system the country needs is proportional and fair, and ensures accountability:

# The DA says the poor and vulnerable cannot tolerate any longer the indignity of the South African Social Security Agency which is meant to provide social protection. A group of pensioners and supporters marched to Parliament yesterday over SASSA’s failures. The DA’s Alexandra Abrahams says they will present the pensioners’ grievances to Social Development minister Nokuzola Tolashe, SASSA’s CEO, Themba Matlou, and Parliament:

Moving abroad:

# Catholic and Greek Orthodox priests and nuns will remain in Gaza City despite Israel’s plan for a military takeover. The religious communities said in a joint statement evacuation orders were already in place for several neighbourhoods in Gaza City. Hundreds of displaced people have taken shelter in the Greek Orthodox compound of Saint Porphyrius and the Catholic Holy Family compound since the outbreak of the war, including children and those with special needs. Stray Israeli fire hit the Holy Family church last month, killing three people and wounding ten others.

# Athletics: The world’s best athletes will converge on Zurich in Switzerland today for the final Diamond League meeting. Six South Africans are taking part in the two-day event, including sprinters Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi and Bayanda Walaza, who will run in the 100-metres. World indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso will participate in the 800-metres, Zenéy van der Walt in die 400-hurdles and Olympic silver medallist, Jo-Ané van Dyk in the javelin. Among the international stars are American sprinter Noah Lyles and Swedish-American world record pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-77-cents and the euro at 20-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-579-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-384-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-51-cents a barrel. 

# And finally: Fourteen-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift and three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce are engaged, nearly two years after going public with their relationship. In a joint Instagram post, the couple wrote, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married”. The post has amassed over 24-million likes. This announcement comes just days after Swift gave a rare insight into her relationship with Kelce during an appearance on his podcast, New Heights, co-hosted with his brother Jason.

Stay tuned for more news………….