News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Cachalia vows to champion the Anti-Corruption Council’s work
# South Africa records a 22-billion-rand trade surplus in June
# And construction on Donald Trump’s White House ballroom begins in September

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia says his dual role, while still chairing the National Anti-Corruption Council, places him in a stronger position to implement the council’s recommendations. Cachalia, whose council term ends this month, plans to arrange a meeting between SAPS leadership and the council to discuss recommendations. He pledged to work closely with the Justice Ministry and advocate for anti-corruption reforms within cabinet discussions:

# Four learners have been suspended following the assault of a grade eight learner at Thuto-Lesedi Secondary School in Vosloorus, in Ekurhuleni. The Gauteng Education Department says the boy was hospitalised after being attacked by a group of learners, sparking protests and disruptions across multiple schools. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the school’s principal has been temporarily moved pending an investigation into ignored bullying complaints:

# The South African Revenue Service reports that the country recorded a preliminary trade surplus of 22-billion-rand in June. Exports totaled 170.7-billion-rand, while imports stood at 148.6-billion-rand, including trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia. According to the SARS, the six-month surplus to June was 80.2-billion-rand lower than the 92-billion-rand in 2024. Exports dropped 2.9-percent year-on-year, while imports rose slightly by 0.6-percent. Key declines were seen in gold, coal, and vehicle exports, as well as petroleum and smartphone imports.

# Sports news:

# Cricket: Pakistan could be regarded as favourites in this afternoon’s final of the World Championship of Legends against South Africa at Edgbaston in England, but former Proteas captain AB de Villiers’ team is expected to fight till the end. Pakistan was the dominant team throughout the tournament for international stars of yesteryear. They are unbeaten, having won their group match against South Africa by 31 runs. But South Africa kept improving, leading to a scintillating victory over Australia in the semifinal. The match starts at 5.30.

# Rugby: Boishaai from Paarl Boys’ High face arch-rivals Paarl Gimnasium at Faure Street Stadium in the Western Cape town today in the 109th interschools derby, a highlight of the schools’ Derby Series. Widely considered South Africa’s biggest schoolboy rugby fixture, Gimmies look to maintain their unbeaten 2025 streak, while Boishaai aims to end a two-year drought. Tens of thousands of fans are expected to witness this fierce and historic rivalry.

# And finally: Construction will begin in September on a 3.6-billion-rand White House ballroom of more than eight-thousand square-metres. The building will fulfil a 15-year ambition by president Donald Trump to construct an event space on the White House grounds that expands the building’s entertaining capacity. The gold-and-white style will closely mimic the Louis XIV-style main event room at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s estate in Palm Beach. The new ballroom will have a seated capacity of 650 people, more than three times the space in the East Room, currently the largest event space in the White House.

Stay tuned for more news………….