News 07:00

BULLETIN 5 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Jacob Zuma appoints his son, Duduzani, as the MK Party’s deputy president
# The Film Board calls for better technology to fight content on child abuse
# And rugby: Siya Kolisi and other stalwarts return for the clash against Argentina

# MK Party president Jacob Zuma has appointed his son, Duduzani, as the party’s first deputy president. He replaces John Hlophe, who retains his position as the party’s parliamentary leader. Tony Yengeni is now the second deputy president. As part of several changes to the party’s national structure, Zuma has fired Nkosinathi Nhleko as national chairperson and deputy secretary general Nomsa Dlamini. They have been replaced by Reverend Mxolisi Phakathi and Lindiwe Mtshali, respectively. Zuma says the changes are part of an organisational reconfiguration aimed at strengthening and consolidating the party.

# Trade union Solidarity calls for urgent government intervention over working conditions at the University of South Africa. Unisa has previously dismissed reports about its working conditions as coordinated misinformation. The union’s Anique Niemand says a survey of Solidarity members found that staff are experiencing excessive workloads, stress and burnout due to staff shortages and inadequate support, with the conditions affecting their physical and mental wellbeing:

# The Film and Publication Board says it’s facing growing challenges in assessing child sexual abuse material because of limited technology and the increasing volume of content. Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, council chairperson Zama Mkosi said the board needs an automated system to improve the process. Mkosi also raised concerns about the safety of staff members who are required to give evidence in these cases:

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to winning the fight against crime, describing it as the biggest obstacle to economic growth, job creation and safer communities. The province recorded an overall 5.2-percent decrease in 17 community-reported serious crimes during the fourth-quarter crime statistics for the 2025/2026 financial year. Speaking at a Ministerial Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and Crime Prevention community engagement in Ivory Park yesterday, Lesufi urged communities to work with law enforcement to root out crime:

# US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says progress has been made in talks with Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, but no final agreement has been reached. This comes as oil prices fell to a three-week low yesterday, with a barrel of Brent crude falling by almost five-percent. Tehran says it is only negotiating with Oman over a temporary route through the Strait to allow commercial shipping to resume. Rubio says he hopes an agreement will be reached soon:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a strong matchday-23 for the one-off Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with Siya Kolisi returning to captain the side. The starting lineup carries 13 changes from the one that beat Wales, with Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morné van den Berg all making a timely return from injury. Seven players who featured against Wales retain their places in the 23, with Aphelele Fassi and Cobus Reinach starting and the other five on the bench.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 18-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-996-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-84-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….