News 07:00

BULLETIN 20 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA seeks stronger anti-corruption measures
# Bantu Holomisa says soldiers are not the answer against protection fee syndicates
# And the Weather Service issues warnings for the Northern and Western Cape

# The DA plans to introduce a Private Members Bill, criticising the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act as inadequate in addressing corruption. They argue the act’s provision to make the Investigative Directorate permanent does not tackle issues like insufficient funding and political control over the NPA. The party’s Glynnis Breytenbach says the proposed bill aims to establish an independent anti-corruption commission with secure tenure and direct funding from the National Treasury: 

# Former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s legal team says she is legally obliged to receive her a ten-million-rand gratuity payout. Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has argued that Mkhwebane is not entitled to the money because she was impeached. After a Section 194 parliamentary inquiry, she was removed for misconduct and incompetence. Mkhwebane’s counsel, advocate Dali Mpofu, told the High Court in Pretoria that the Public Protector’s Office’s position that the gratuity is discretionary is wrong:

# Deputy Defence minister Bantu Holomisa does not believe intervention by the South African National Defence Force is the answer to a protection fee syndicate in the Eastern Cape. The business community in Mthatha is grappling with escalating security threats as syndicates demand protection fees from businesses, especially those owned by foreign nationals. This has led to some businesses shutting down. Holomisa has called on police and crime intelligence to step up and protect businesses in the province.

# The United Nations has warned of a deepening crisis of malnutrition in the Middle East and North Africa affecting a third of children. Unicef says at least 77-million, or one in three children in the Middle East and North Africa have some form of malnutrition. It said 55-million children across the 20 countries assessed are overweight or obese, which Unicef considers a type of malnutrition. A further 24-million children suffer from undernutrition, including stunting, wasting and thinness.

# Rugby: SA Under-18 coach James Winstanley has made ten rotational changes to his starting team from the side that beat Ireland, for today’s International Series clash with England at Paarl Boys’ High School. Winstanley says the changes are intentional so that everyone in the squad gets a start. Only two backs are retained, Akha Boqwana at fullback and Khutadzo Rashivhaga on the right wing. Upfront captain Sethu Mnebelele earns his second start, while Riley Norton also gets another start at lock, as does Reuben Kruger at number 8.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-492-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-502-dollars-4-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 1 warning for damaging winds today in Southern Namakwa in the Northern Cape, and the Central Karoo in the Western Cape. Coastal winds between Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay are expected tomorrow. The Service says the approaching cold front from the southwest of the Western Cape could bring near-gale force winds with gusts of 70 to 90 kilometres per hour. SAWS warns of potential damage to settlements, and small vessels at risk of capsizing. The service advises motorists to drive cautiously.

Stay tuned for more news………….