News 08:00

BULLETIN 5 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa records two new positive Mpox cases
# The EFF says poor border and harbour controls are responsible for the influx of drugs
# And the UK prime minister says the anti-immigration protests are far-right thuggery

# The Department of Health has confirmed that two more positive cases of Mpox have been detected in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, increasing the number of cases from 22 to 24 nationwide. The number of deaths linked to the disease remains at three. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says the 23rd case is a 36-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal who was admitted at a public health facility in Durban late in July and has no international travel history:

# The EFF says South Africa has become a notorious hub for drug trafficking, facilitated by lax border and harbour controls. Last week Tuesday, a Brazilian drug mule was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport with cocaine worth one-million-rand. In the Western Cape, 252-million-rand worth of cocaine was seized at a roadblock in Stillbaai, while a clandestine drug lab worth two-billion-rand was shut down in Limpopo. The EFF says minister of Police Senzo Mchunu must present a comprehensive strategic plan to annihilate illegal drug manufacturing and imports in the country.

# Save South Africa Civic Movement has condemned the recent disciplinary hearing outcome for 12 white learners at Pretoria High School for Girls, calling it nonsensical and racially biased. The pupils who were accused of racism were found not guilty by the school governing body. Spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane criticised the three-people panel for lacking objectivity and sensitivity, alleging the decision reinforces racial discrimination, undermining black learners. He demands transparency and a detailed report from the disciplinary hearings:

# UK prime minister Keir Starmer has condemned anti-immigration protests across the country. Violent scenes have broken out in areas including Tamworth, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Hull, and Weymouth. This follows false reports that the suspect in the death of three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last week was an asylum seeker. At least 150 protestors have been arrested. Starmer has vowed those involved in the violence will face the full force of the law:

# Olympic Games: American Scottie Scheffler carded a final round nine-under 62 to win the gold medal in the men’s golf final in Paris. The world number one is already a six-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, including winning his second Masters title. Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood secured the silver medal and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan the bronze. South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen finished 16th and 17th respectively.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-1-cent. One British pound costs 23-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 54-thousand-272-dollars-75-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-444-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….