News 07:00

BULLETIN 6 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Build One South Africa rejects the passing of the water crisis to municipalities
# AfriForum condemns the political interference in schools
# And Olympic Games: Lotto money saved the cash-strapped Team SA in Paris

# Build One South Africa has criticised Water and Sanitation minister, Pemmy Majodina, for shifting the blame for the water supply crisis from her department onto municipalities. The department has been allocated 42.6-billion-rand this financial year to optimise the country’s water resources. BOSA’s deputy leader, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, is calling on the minister to launch an investigation to ascertain which municipalities are struggling to distribute water and then to instruct the transfer of distribution to capable non-profit organisations and private service providers.

# The National Health Laboratory Service has begun restoring its critical IT services following a recent cyberattack. Critical services, including laboratory registration and results processing, are being returned online in phases. Healthcare professionals can now access patient results through the NHLS laboratory web results viewer, improving efficiency and reducing backlogs. The laboratory’s spokesperson Mzi Gcukumana says they are safeguarding their IT assets and resuming full-service delivery amid ongoing global cyber threats:

# AfriForum has criticised the Gauteng Department of Education’s investigation at Pretoria High School for Girls, calling it an attempt to undermine its governing body. Allegations of racism led to an inquiry despite a disciplinary hearing clearing the accused twelve learners. AfriForum’s Alana Bailey emphasised the importance of school governing bodies and condemned political interference, especially during matric exam preparations:

# The DA in the Western Cape says it is disappointed that its motion of no confidence in Knysna Municipality council speaker, Mncedisi Skosana, from the ANC failed. Eleven councillors voted against the motion, while nine voted in its favour. The DA had requested that the motion be voted by secret ballot, instead, the acting speaker proceeded with a show of hands. The DA says although the motion was unsuccessful, it is pleased to have had the opportunity to highlight the significant failures of the current coalition government.

# The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed deep concern about the rising risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Both Tehran and Hamas blame Israel for the killing but Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement. UN Human Rights spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, says first and foremost the protection of civilians must be the top priority:

# Olympic Games: The National Lotteries Commission reportedly intervened at the last minute to help Team South Africa’s participation in Paris. It gave the team for the Summer Games 28-million-rand and the Paralympics team 11.5-million-rand. Among the strict conditions are that the money only be spent on athletes, coaches and medical staff, and not on sports administrators or politicians’ travel and other expenses. Sport24 reports the grant was approved just weeks before the start of the Games because governing body Sascoc squandered previous Lottery grants.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-48-cents and the euro at 20-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 55-thousand-769-dollars-29-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-411-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….