News 07:00

BULLETIN 10 August 7 am

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Olympic Games: A silver medal for South Africa in the in the four-by-100-metres relay

# Ramaphosa says South Africa remains a highly unequal country

# And, Brazil’s president expresses his sadness after a plane with 61 people on board crashes in Sao Paulo

# We start with excellent news from the Olympic Games: South Africa is celebrating its first medal in the men’s four-by-100-metres relay, with the silver giving Akani Simbine the first major medal of his career. He streaked the team from fifth to second in 8.78-seconds in the final leg in Paris. Together with Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi and Bradley Nkoana, Simbine set an African record of 37.57-seconds in the relay. Canada won gold in 37.50-seconds with Great Britain third in 37.61. The silver is South Africa’s first medal at a major competition since the world championships in 2017. 

Meanwhile, South Africa’s men’s four-by-400-metre team is back in tonight’s final after an appeal following a dramatic heat in which they ended last. The South Africans take the spot initially won by Nigeria, who were disqualified after a lane violation which led to Antonio Nortjé being tripped and falling. He got up and continued running, but the team finished last. Athletics team manager Jean Verster they are grateful their appeal was successful and are happy to be in tonight’s nine-lane final.     

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa remains a highly unequal country and poverty still has the face of a black woman. Ramaphosa was speaking during the government commemoration of National Women’s Day at the Dennis Nel Stadium in Pofadder in the Northern Cape. The president says black women are more likely to be unemployed, poor and unskilled.

Ramaphosa added the government of national unity is united across the political spectrum by its common commitment to improve the lives of South African women. At the Women’s Day commemoration he said to grow the economy and accelerate development, women must take their rightful place as active participants. The president wants women to be business owners, producers, employers and employees:

# And, Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a minute’s silence at an event he was speaking at after the news that a plane carrying 57 passengers and four crewmembers had crashed in the state of Sao Paulo. The twin-engine turboprop plane was flying from Cascavel in southern Brazil to the main airport in Sao Paulo city when it came down in the town of Vinhedo. Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the family and friends of the victims.

Stay tuned for more news………….