News 07:00

BULLETIN 13 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IFP does not want the party to lose its identity in the government of national unity
# There are growing calls for the police to collaborate with AfriForum and security agencies to combat crime
# And rugby: Duane Vermeulen hints at possible changes for the clash against the Wallabies

# The IFP’s National Council has directed the party not to lose its identity in the government of national unity. The council is the highest decision-making body of the IFP in between conferences. The IFP has two cabinet positions. The council has called on the party to aggressively pursue IFP policies and the 2024 manifesto in the government of national unity’s basic minimum programme of priorities. It has also welcomed the party’s participation in the provincial government of national unity in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

# AfriForum urges the South African Police Service to collaborate closely with neighbourhood watches and other security agencies to combat rising crime. The call follows revelations of a severe shortage of eight-thousand-500 detectives and a backlog of unsolved cases. AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk says recent figures reveal that over 80-thousand murder and 61-thousand rape cases have been closed without resolution due to insufficient manpower and inadequate resources: 

# The EFF in Limpopo is calling on the government to immediately expropriate without compensation unoccupied farms and farms which are used for criminal activities. This follows the discovery of an alleged firearm training camp in Modimolle. Two weeks ago, police uncovered a suspected military training base in White River, Mpumalanga. The EFF says some Limpopo farms have become an alternative hub of hardcore criminals and terrorists. It adds that a multi-disciplinary order restoration team must be established to combat these illegal activities.

# Golden Arrow Bus Services and Eskom have signed a memorandum of cooperation to support the rollout of electric buses. The bus service plans to introduce 120 electric buses, with deliveries starting this year and full operation expected by December 2025. The agreement will facilitate collaboration on electricity supply, including renewable energy, and infrastructure development. CEO Francois Meyer stressed the importance of partnerships for a successful transition to electric public transport.

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation states South Africa cannot move the 44th SADC summit from Zimbabwe. This comes as calls for action mount against Zimbabwe’s crackdown on opposition and civil society. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch demand the release of those arrested. Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri emphasised the need for dialogue to address unrest ahead of the summit:

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coach Duane Vermeulen says the team has no place for complacency as they gear up to face Australia in Perth on Saturday. The world champions began their Rugby Championship campaign with a dominant 33-7 victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane at the weekend. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will name his matchday squad for the clash today. Vermeulen says changes to the starting line-up could be beneficial to the team:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-23-cents and the euro at 19-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-417-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-465-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….