News 07:00

BULLETIN 31 August 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SACP says it is ready for the elections as it fields over four-thousand candidates
# Funza Lushaka bursary payments have been made to six universities 
# And rugby: Springbok legend Joggie Jansen has passed away

# The South African Communist Party says it is ready to contest the upcoming local government elections in November, after submitting its candidate lists to the Electoral Commission of South Africa. It will field four-thousand-418 ward candidates across the country, while also contesting proportional representation seats. SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila says their candidate lists are the product of a long engagement process with communities that also informed its manifesto priorities:

Meanwhile, the SACP also says it has not walked away from the Tripartite Alliance, but firmly remains part of it while pursuing its reconfiguration. This is as the party will, for the first time, contest the polls across the country independently of its larger alliance partner, the ANC. Mapaila says their independent electoral contest forms part of the struggle to rebuild working-class political representation and secure the reconfiguration of the alliance:

# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has paid more than 222-million-rand to six universities for the Funza Lushaka teacher bursary programme. The payment covers nearly three-thousand students whose allowances have been delayed. The universities are now responsible for transferring the money to students. Another 296-million-rand has been submitted for processing for September. More than half a billion rand in additional funds remains unclaimed because universities have yet to submit their claims. They have until 13 September to submit outstanding claims for October payment. Funza Lushaka supports students pursuing teaching qualifications.

# The Hawks have arrested a 37-year-old suspect who is linked to the 635-million-rand Tembisa hospital corruption case. He was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on his return from abroad. Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, says the suspect is part of the complex investigation into the multimillion-rand tender fraud case. She says the allegations relate to various contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act:

# Iceland has voted against a referendum to reopen accession talks with the European Union. A total of 52.8-percent of more than 225-thousand people rejected the government’s proposal, while 47.2-percent supported it. Voter turnout was high at 82.5-percent. Many voters believed EU membership would threaten the island’s sovereignty and fishing waters. Those who supported the referendum had argued that joining the bloc could offer greater security amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and given US president Donald Trump’s unpredictable attitude towards Greenland.

# Rugby: Former Springbok centre Joggie Jansen passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday morning. He made his Test debut against New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 25 July 1970, and went on to earn ten Test caps for South Africa between 1970 and 1972, scoring one try. Jansen played his provincial rugby for the Free State and was a member of their 1976 Currie Cup-winning squad. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says Jansen was a formidable rugby player who represented his country with commitment and courage.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-791-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-430-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….