News 07:00

BULLETIN 8 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is pleased with the work of the ministers in the government of national unity
# Three men are jailed for their roles in the England riots
# And cricket: Rain hampers the opening day of the first Test between the Proteas and West Indies

# The Presidency says president Cyril Ramaphosa is satisfied that the seventh administration under the government of national unity has started on the right footing. Ministers appointed from seven of the ten political parties that make up the government serve in the Cabinet. Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says Ramaphosa is pleased that the ministers are working well together to serve South Africans:

# ActionSA calls for strengthened oversight and efficient payment systems at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to prevent corruption and ensure timely support for students. The party supports ongoing reforms and updates to information and communication technology systems. ActionSA’s Malebo Kobe calls for the removal of intermediaries to enhance the management of bursaries and loans, ensuring that students receive the necessary aid without delays:

# The DA says its coalition with the Freedom Front Plus in Langeberg, Western Cape, has been dissolved. This follows a dispute the DA lodged against the FF Plus over a refusal to support the coalition’s budget in the council in May. DA provincial leader, Tertuis Simmers, says this constitutes a material breach of the coalition agreement and contributed significantly to the breakdown of trust between the parties:

# The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that eleven learners who died in a Carletonville crash will be laid to rest today in the West Rand. A joint funeral service will be held at Fochville Secondary School. The learners and their driver were killed in July when their taxi was hit by a bakkie. The man accused of causing the accident has since been released on 20-thousand-rand bail and faces 12 counts of culpable homicide and one of reckless driving.

# Three men have been sent to jail for their roles in the rioting that broke out after the murders of three young girls in England. Derek Drummond, Liam Riley and Declan Geiran admitted to charges such as violent disorder, racially aggravated public order offences, and arson. This followed the deaths of nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Stancombe and six-year-old Bebe King during an attack at a dance class in Southport. The sentences followed after premier Keir Starmer promised quick punishment for those involved in the upheaval.

# Cricket: South Africa reached 45 for one against the West Indies before rain ended play early on the opening day of the first Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Only 15 overs’ play was possible after West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and put the Proteas into bat first. Aiden Markram’s was the one wicket to fall after sharing an opening stand of 43 with Tony de Zorzi, who is on 32. Tristan Stubbs is unbeaten on two.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-34-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-455-dollars-11-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-388-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….