News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum is ready to fight Eskom’s appeal on its diesel and coal contracts
# Ukraine troops are continuing their advance into Russian territory
# And netball: The Proteas have a new captain

# AfriForum says it is ready to face Eskom in court again over the application to obtain information about the power utility’s existing coal and diesel contracts. The High Court in Johannesburg has granted Eskom leave to appeal a March court ruling, which ordered the power utility to provide the civil rights organisation with information regarding the contracts within ten days. AfriForum’s, Charné Mostert, says Eskom now has one month to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeal:

# The EFF’s student command wants all nominees for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme board to be interviewed publicly. The board was dissolved in April by former Higher Education, Science, and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande. This was after board chairperson Ernest Khosa took a leave of absence pending investigations into multimillion-rand graft allegations. The scheme was placed under administration. The EFF says in the past it has observed a dubious and unethical culture of appointing individuals to the scheme’s board in a private and untransparent manner. 

# The City of Tshwane says to date, substantial progress has been made across various components of the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade project. This is to solve Hammanskraal’s water problems. Mayoral committee member for Utilities and Regional Operations and Coordination, Themba Fosi, says over the next three months, they anticipate advancing the construction of two primary sedimentation tanks, and the refurbishment of the east flow balancing tank and pump station:

# A wave of Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russia’s Voronezh, Kursk, Savasleyka, and Borisoglebsk airbases, where warplanes take off to drop glide bombs on Ukraine. This is as Ukraine’s troops are pushing further into Russia’s Kursk region, with 100 soldiers captured. Now in its second week, this is Ukraine’s deepest incursion into Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is defending itself and the lives of its people in border communities while also taking active steps on Russian territory.

# Netball: Khanyisa Chawane is the new captain of the Proteas with Karla Pretorius as the vice-captain. Chawane takes over the leadership role from Bongi Msomi, who retired after last year’s World Cup, having led the team since 2016. Netball South Africa says Chawane is a seasoned player, bringing a wealth of experience and skills to her new role. The Proteas assembled for camp yesterday to prepare for the season ahead. Chawane says she is excited to take on this new challenge:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-419-dollars-50-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-452-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….