News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 July 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Solidarity says FlySafair is declaring war on pilots
# Rugby: Mbombela Stadium turns green and gold as Springboks draw massive crowd
# And finally, Antarctica’s oldest ice arrives in the UK for analysis on climate shifts

# Trade union Solidarity says FlySafair management has declared war on its pilots and the flying public. This comes after the airline announced a seven-day lockout of pilots in response to a planned one-day strike, with the possibility of extending the lockout to 14 days. The union has also extended its strike to two weeks. Solidarity’s Helgard Cronjé says FlySafair’s top executives reportedly sold shares worth over 90-million-rand, while pilots work under poor conditions:

# The DA in the Western Cape has condemned SASSA’s grant review process, calling it a failure of compassion that harms vulnerable residents. Spokesperson Wendy Kaizer-Philander says elderly and unemployed grant beneficiaries are being told to return a month later for reviews, despite providing correct documentation. She’s urged SASSA to suspend in-person verifications, streamline the process, and stop penalising informal income:

# The Gauteng Provincial Legislature will host the Children’s Sector Parliament today to promote children’s rights as enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution. The event continues former president Nelson Mandela’s legacy of championing children’s well-being. Participants will engage lawmakers on issues including mental wellness, access to specialised primary schools, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education. The platform allows children and advocacy groups to propose real solutions to provincial leaders, ensuring policies reflect their needs and realities.

# Rugby: Mbombela Stadium manager Roelf Kotze has told SABC Sport that over 35-thousand tickets have been sold for the thrilling Springboks’ encounter against Georgia. Kotze urged fans to arrive early and enjoy the full experience, including the beer garden and team warm-ups. The stadium will be decked in green and gold, with park-and-ride facilities advised. Mpumalanga police say they plan for an incident-free event as they remain on alert. Kick-off is at 5:10 pm.

# Tennis: Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur is taking a break from competitive tennis. Jabeur is the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, but has struggled with her form in recent months, failing to get past the third round of a major this year. The 30-year-old Tunisian said in a social media post that she hasn’t felt truly happy on the tennis court for some time. Jabeur is married to former fencer Karim Kamoun and has also been open about her wish to start a family.

# And finally: Antarctica’s oldest ice has arrived in Brittain for analysis, which scientists hope will reveal more about Earth’s climate shifts. The ice cores will be analysed at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, with the ultimate goal of reconstructing up to 1.5 million years of Earth’s climate history. The cylindrical tubes of ancient ice were retrieved from depths of up to two-thousand-800 metres. The research is also expected to offer valuable context for predicting future climate change. Researchers hope to improve predictions of how Earth’s climate may respond to future greenhouse gas increases.

Stay tuned for more news………….