News 07:00

BULLETIN 22 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Education Department denies corruption in its school feeding programme
# South Africa’s agriculture sector records a 26-billion-rand trade surplus
# And Antony Blinken says time is of the essence to secure a ceasefire in Gaza

# The Department of Basic Education has denied corruption allegations regarding the modernisation of the National School Nutrition Programme. It dismissed claims of tampering with the tender process. Director-General Mathanzima Mweli says the modernisation process, aimed at improving the programme’s efficiency and value, has been extensively vetted and complies with legal standards. The department’s Terence Khala says the process was lawful and intended to benefit learners, small businesses, and local economies: 

# South Africa’s agriculture sector achieved a 26-billion-rand trade surplus in the second quarter, despite a six-percent year-on-year decline. The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa attributes this to lower prices and decreased production volumes, particularly in grains and oilseeds. Citrus, maize, apples, and wine were among the top exports. Agbiz highlighted improved port efficiency and urged policymakers to enhance logistics, retain key markets, and expand exports to strategic markets like Japan and South Korea.

# The DA in Gauteng has expressed concern about the future of the City of Johannesburg. This comes after the election of ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu as council speaker. She won the race against the DA’s Nonhlanhla Sifumba. The DA’s, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, says the coalition partners who form part of the governing coalition are unable to speak from one mouth, on issues directly impacting residents:

# DA leader John Steenhuisen and Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald recently met to discuss coalitions in the Western Cape. They agreed that unstable local ANC coalition relationships are detrimental to the affected communities and that coalitions of which the DA and the FF Plus are a part should be stabilised. The leaders say inputs from local leadership of affected municipalities will be collected to identify the origin of problems and to find amicable solutions. Both parties are committed to ensuring service delivery and good municipal governance.

# US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says time is of the essence to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and Israeli hostages released. He has wrapped up a Middle East tour. Blinken has reiterated that Israel has endorsed a US proposal to overcome the deep differences between Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas. Egypt and Qatar are working with the US to broker a truce, which diplomats say would help avert a wider crisis that could draw in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

 # Cricket: Australia’s Northern Territory Cricket hopes next year’s white-ball series between the Proteas and the Baggy Green will see a return to international cricket for Darwin. The city hosted the last of its four one-day internationals in 2008. Australia and South Africa will play three ODIs and three T20s in August next year and CEO Gavin Dovey is negotiating with Cricket Australia for some of the action in Darwin. He says it’s one of the few places in Australia ideally situated for winter cricket.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-84-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-867-dollars-53-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-507-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….