News 08:00

BULLETIN 29 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Asset Forfeiture Unit is being assisted internationally to recover the  stolen money of the Guptas
# The former Bok coach Peter de Villiers is acquitted of  sexual assault 
# And the Minneapolis school shooter was obsessed with the idea of killing children

# The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit says it is being assisted by international financial institutions to recover the money the Guptas looted from the state. According to the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, the state disbursed about 72.3-billion-rand to the Guptas’ criminal empire. Speaking during a panel discussion hosted by the Daily Maverick, deputy national director of public prosecutions, Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba, says justice will be done to those credibly accused of misappropriating South African taxpayers’ money:

# Federation union Saftu has expressed concern at energy regulator Nersa’s 54-billion-rand settlement agreement with Eskom. This is after Nersa made an error in determining the power utility’s revenue for the current and next two financial years. Following the revisions to the price determination, the tariff increases for the next two years will be 8.8-percent each, almost three times higher than the anticipated consumer inflation rate. Saftu’s spokesperson, Asive Dyani, says this settlement is another blow to the working class and poor households:

# The Malmesbury Regional Court in the Western Cape has acquitted former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers in a sexual assault case. He was charged with sexual assault and crimen injuria after a woman alleged that the former Bok coach sexually assaulted her after dropping her off at home following an event last January. Subsequently, the GOOD Party terminated De Villiers’ membership. His legal representative, Hendrik le Roux, told News24 that De Villiers will now focus on rebuilding his life.

# Acting US Attorney General for Minnesota, Joseph Thompson, says the attacker who opened fire during the Annunciation Catholic School Mass in Minneapolis on Wednesday was obsessed with the idea of killing children. Robin Westman opened fire on praying students through the windows of the Annunciation Church, killing two children aged eight and ten. Eighteen other people were wounded. Westman killed himself on the scene. Thompson says Westman left a note. but did not seem to have any specific motive:

# Athletics: South Africa’s Akani Simbine crossed the line in 9.98-seconds to finish second in the men’s 100-metres at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich, Switzerland. His compatriot, Bayanda Walaza, pulled up with a hamstring injury. American Christian Coleman won the race with Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake in third. South Africa’s Jo-Ane du Plessis finished third in the women’s javelin, which was won by Elina Tzengko of Greece ahead of Serbian Adriana Vilagos. World indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso ended sixth in the women’s 800-metres.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-673-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-411-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….