News 08:00

BULLETIN 17 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The national dialogue is a foundational step and does not provide all the answers
# Eskom wants to enhance the stability of its network further
# And sports news: the Wallabies beat the Springboks, and Australia wins the T20 series against the Proteas

# National dialogue convention co-deputy chairperson, Lindiwe Mazibuko, says the inaugural convention was never intended to provide all the answers. Mazibuko delivered the closing speech at the national dialogue in Pretoria. She says it is a foundational step, setting the agenda for the long journey ahead. She adds that it is a powerful example of inclusivity and the beginning of a process that truly belongs to citizens in every community.

# EFF leader Julius Malema says it is not surprising that the ANC has refused to bring justice to the families of the Marikana victims. He says there have been no prosecutions, no reparations, and no structural change to the mining sector that continues to enrich a few at the expense of the many. Malema says thirty-four workers of Marikana died in vain because their demands remain unmet, their killers remain unpunished, and the system that murdered them remains firmly in place:

# Eskom says it is planning to return a total of four-thousand-151-megawatts of generation capacity to service on Monday, in a bid to further strengthen grid stability. Between first April and 14 August, the unplanned capability loss factor, which reflects the percentage of generation capacity lost due to unplanned outages, further decreased to 28.14-percent. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says with loadshedding suspended and electricity demand rising, customers are urged to continue to help safeguard the power system:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says he has agreed to meet with US president Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. This follows Trump’s meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Both leaders insisted that the meeting was productive and progress was made, but no agreement was reached for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Zelensky says he supports Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. He has reaffirmed his readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace.

# And sports news

# Rugby: The Wallabies produced a second-half performance that will reverberate around the rugby world as they broke a 62-year drought in Johannesburg. The Australians overcame the Springboks in a thrilling encounter by 38-22 in the first Rugby Championship test at Ellispark. While the Boks were leading 22-5 at half-time, a determined Wallabies team fought back in the second half and neutralised the Boks on all fronts. The Boks scored three tries, one by captain Siya Kolisi, while the Aussies scored five tries – one in the first half and the rest in the second half.

# And cricket: Australia secured a thrilling two-wicket victory over the Proteas in the final T20 match in Cairns, claiming the series 2-1. Glenn Maxwell’s brilliant unbeaten 62 guided the Australians home in a tense chase of 173, overcoming a late wobble. Despite a fighting half-century from South Africa’s Dewald Brevis, his team couldn’t defend their total, falling to a disciplined Australian side who clinched the decider. The two sides now turn their attention to the first of a three-match One Day International series starting on Tuesday, also at Cairns.

Stay tuned for more news………….