News 07:00

BULLETIN 1 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Correctional Services Department hits back at the allegations made by Thabo Bester
# Media24 will retain its journalists amidst the closure of its print editions
# And five pupils are killed in an accident in Mpumalanga

# The Department of Correctional Services has denied allegations made by convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester about his treatment at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria. In a pretrial conference at the Free State High Court in June, amongst other allegations, Bester said he was being kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours of the day and was not given adequate time to consult with his lawyers. The department insists everything surrounding Bester’s incarceration has been done by the book.

# Media24 will retain Beeld, City Press, Daily Sun, and Rapport journalists despite plans to close their print editions. CEO Ishmet Davidson announced that 66 journalists will join Netwerk24, News24, and the Daily Sun website. Davidson emphasised Media24‘s commitment to minimising job losses and serving journalism. The company will however continue consultations with other affected staff and anticipates a Competition Commission decision on restructuring by October 2024.

# Police in KwaZulu-Natal have tightened security for any public protest after former president Jacob Zuma’s ANC expulsion from the ANC. The ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee found Zuma guilty of prejudicing the party’s integrity by collaborating with the MK Party and tainted its image by becoming the MK Party’s leader. KZN ANC chairperson Siboniso Duma says Zuma had deserted the ANC:

# Five pupils have died and eleven others were seriously injured when the scholar transport bus they were travelling in collided with a moving train along the R-104 in Mpumalanga. It is alleged that the bus crossed a railway line while the train was too close. The bus was believed to have been carrying 30 pupils. The provincial Department of Community, Safety Security and Liaison’s spokesperson, Mmusi Moeti, says the bus driver sustained minor injuries, but the train driver was not harmed:

# Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera says two of its journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip. Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifee were killed in the Al-Shati refugee camp, where they were reporting near the family home of slain Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. They were both wearing their press vests and their car was marked. Al Jazeera’s managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, says Ismail was renowned for his professionalism and dedication, bringing the world’s attention to the suffering and atrocities committed in Gaza.

# Olympic Games: The South African men’s hockey team has been eliminated from the Games after suffering a three-nil defeat to Spain. The women’s side lost two-one to Britain. Meanwhile, Rio 2016 bronze medallist Henri Schoeman finished 20th and James Riddle 25th in the men’s individual triathlon, which Britain’s Alex Lee won. Vicky van der Merwe finished 46th in the women’s race. In rowing, London gold medallist John Smith and Christopher Baxter finished fourth in their men’s pair semifinal, while Paige Badenhorst will fight for 13th to 18th place overall on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-123-dollars-48-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-448-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….