News 08:00

BULLETIN 11 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC Integrity Commission clears Paul Mashatile
# COPE appoints an interim leader as Lekota steps back
# And the US defends Israel at the UN Security Council meeting

# The ANC Integrity Commission has reportedly cleared deputy president Paul Mashatile of any wrongdoing concerning his luxury homes in Waterfall in Gauteng and Constantia in Cape Town. Mashatile came under scrutiny after declaring two luxury properties worth approximately 65-million-rand, which he had previously denied owning, including the Constantia house, which he claimed belonged to his son-in-law. He maintained that there was nothing irregular about the properties. The Integrity Commission has recommended that Mashatile consider using the state houses provided for his use in Gauteng and the Western Cape. 

# The Congress of the People has appointed Teboho Loate as interim leader until its Elective Congress in December. This as the party’s president, Mosiuoa Lekota, has stepped back from politics to focus on his health. COPE held its Ordinary Congress National Committee meeting in Gauteng over the weekend. Loate says that under the current Government of National Unity, the ANC has steadily weakened the state and destroyed public trust. He says they want to offer a real alternative that puts people first:

# The advocacy movement Soil of Africa will be marching to the Mamelodi Municipal offices today against the ongoing water crisis in parts of the City of Tshwane. The metro’s ageing water infrastructure, combined with high water consumption, are some of the major contributing factors to this issue. The movement’s chairperson, Bongani Ramontja, says this water crisis is a sign of poor governance and a total collapse of service delivery:

# US Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council Dorothy Shea has defended Israel, stating that it has the right to decide what’s best for its security and citizens. The Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday, as condemnation grows over Israel’s plan to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace nearly a million Palestinians. Shea says the US has been working tirelessly to free the hostages, end the war and give civilians in Gaza a future free of Hamas:

# Golf: South Africa’s Dean Burmester won his second LIV Golf individual title after beating Spaniards Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester on the first play-off hole to claim victory in Chicago. Burmester lost a two-shot lead at the start with three straight bogeys, but he rallied back for an even-par 71 to finish on nine-under 204. Meanwhile, there was also a team playoff, with Burmester’s Stinger team beating Torque for the title. Burmester, who bagged the 71-million-rand first-place prize, says this win is special:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-71-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-893-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-379-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….