News 08:00

BULLETIN 8 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Presidents Ramaphosa and Putin discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and bilateral issues
# The FF Plus says the ANC’s policy is at the root of South Africa’s diplomatic and trade crisis
# And sports news: Smith, Wolvaardt, and Du Toit are among the nominations for the SA Sport Awards

# President Cyril Ramaphosa held a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the Ukraine war and issues of mutual bilateral interest. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western nations have imposed far-reaching sanctions on Moscow in a bid to hinder its war effort. However, South Africa has maintained a policy of non-alignment, engaging with both countries. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the discussion followed Putin’s request to brief Ramaphosa on the peace process with Ukraine:

# The Freedom Front Plus says South Africa’s diplomatic and trade crisis can rightly be attributed to the ANC government’s long-standing, flawed socialist policy directives and failed foreign policy. This as the US has imposed 30-percent reciprocal tariffs on South African exports. The FF Plus’s Jaco Mulder says recent statements by Trade and Industry minister, Parks Tau, and president Cyril Ramaphosa, asserting that alternative markets will be explored through the African Free Trade Agreement and with the East, offer little reassurance:

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has called on police to leave no stone unturned to bring the murderers of Eastern Cape Regional Court prosecutor, Tracy Brown, to justice. The minister attended the memorial service for the slain prosecutor yesterday. Brown, who was attached to the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court in Gqeberha, was shot and killed last Thursday. Kubayi says that without protection, prosecutors will be unable to perform their duties without fear or favour, and they will not be able to exercise their independence. 

# Sports news: Olympic swimming champion Tatjana Smith, sprinter Akani Simbine, and sprint and long jump star Mpumelelo Mhlongo are competing to be named South Africa’s sports star of the year for 2024. Athletes have been nominated in 16 categories for the South African Sport Awards, which will be announced on the 24th. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture also named Smith in the sportswoman of the year category, together with Proteas Women’s cricket captain Laura Wolvaardt. Springbok rugby star Pieter-Steph du Toit was nominated for the sportsman of the year.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-965-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-387-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

# And finally, South Africa’s Grammy-award winning superstar Tyla has been nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards. The 23-year-old singer is nominated in the categories of Best Choreography and Best Afrobeats for her chart-topping single Push 2 Start. The song has garnered over 100-million views across platforms and sparked a viral dance trend globally. Lady Gaga leads the pack with a total of 12 VMA nominations, while Bruno Mars follows closely with eleven nods and Kendrick Lamar with ten. The awards will be held on September 7th in New York.

Stay tuned for more news………….