News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# RISE Mzansi says the government of national unity needs a reset
# Digital banking fraud complaints surge by 73-percent
# And rugby: Makazole Mapimpi is called up to the Bok squad

# RISE Mzansi says the government of national unity needs a reset instead of lurching from crisis to crisis while the country itself is in crisis. Last month, the ANC’s national executive committee resolved to expand the coalition government to include more parties in a bid to strengthen its effectiveness. RISE Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi says a GNU Lekgotla is needed to iron out inter-personal issues, which must culminate in the signing of an actual coalition agreement:

# The National Financial Ombud Scheme reports a 73-percent increase in digital banking fraud complaints, rising from one-thousand-436 cases in early 2024 to two-thousand-483 this year. Regulatory adjudicator Johan Brouwer told eNCA that phishing remains the most common tactic, with fraudsters tricking customers into revealing credentials. Recently, 500-thousand-rand was stolen through virtual cards after a customer fell victim. He warns that while virtual cards are safer, compromised credentials can enable fraud:

# Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela says they are working towards establishing a provincial e-hailing platform, which all stakeholders will be responsible for. The MEC met with Maponya Mall management and law enforcement officials in Soweto on Monday. This comes in the wake of resurging violence that claimed one person and left two others injured near the mall last Wednesday. Diale-Tlabela says the Gauteng-based e-hailing app will ensure the safety of commuters:

# Amnesty International has accused Israel of enacting a deliberate policy of starvation in Gaza over the past 22 months. The human rights group’s latest report includes new testimonies of starved displaced civilians. The total number of malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza stands at 227, including 103 children, since October 2023.  Amnesty International says the deadly combination of hunger and disease is not an unfortunate byproduct of Israel’s military operations. It says it is the intended outcome of plans and policies that Israel has implemented to deliberately inflict on Palestinians in Gaza.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up experienced Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi to the squad, ahead of their second Rugby Championship match against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday. This, as captain Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse have been released from the squad, after suffering injuries in Saturday’s shock 38-22 defeat against the Wallabies. They are expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. Despite having enough cover in the squad at loose forward, Erasmus has opted to call up Mapimpi, who boasts 47 Tests, as backline cover.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-65-cents and the euro at 20-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-92-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-332-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Dame Helen Mirren says James Bond should be played by a man, even though she is such a feminist. In a new interview with Saga Magazine, the Oscar-winning actress said a woman just won’t work. Amazon MGM Studios will produce the next iteration of the spy franchise, with Steven Knight set to write what will become the 26th film in the series. At 80, Dame Helen is currently starring opposite former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan in the film adaption of The Thursday Murder Club.

Stay tuned for more news………….