News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC is going to take disciplinary steps against Mchunu and Gigaba
# A former National Lotteries Commission board member must repay over 21-million-rand
# And Donald Trump says a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting is on the cards

# The ANC says it will take disciplinary steps against senior members Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu following their recent remarks. In an interview published in The Sunday Times, Gigaba stated that the party’s national executive committee had failed to achieve its objectives. Speaking in KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend, suspended Police minister Mchunu suggested that the ANC is on the brink of collapsing. The ANC says Gigaba and Mchunu’s conduct represents a flagrant violation of ANC internal communication protocols and undermines the fundamental discipline of the movement.

# The Special Tribunal has ordered former National Lotteries Commission board member, advocate William Huma, to repay over 21-million-rand in misappropriated grants linked to his associates and family. The funds were allocated for community upliftment projects, including a chicken farming initiative for the residents of Marikana, North West. A probe by the Special Investigating Unit found that the funds were misappropriated by Silverlite Trading, which Huma took control of as the sole director. The tribunal also set aside a 4.6-million-rand grant to Reagile NPC, directed by Huma’s wife and nephew. 

# The DA in Gauteng urges Infrastructure Development MEC Jacob Mamabolo to ensure the Johannesburg South Forensic Pathology Laboratory opens and serves the public. This comes after Mamabolo launched an enquiry into the long-delayed facility, which has already cost taxpayers over 700-million-rand and left residents waiting years for autopsies, postmortems, and toxicology reports. The DA’s Madeleine Hicklin says families deserve timely access to these critical forensic services:

# US president Donald Trump says he has begun arranging a bilateral meeting between his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump met with Zelensky and some European leaders at the White House on Monday. The Kremlin has repeatedly turned down the idea of a Putin-Zelensky meeting. Trump has dismissed the need for any ceasefire before negotiations to end the war can take place:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana have been knocked out of the African Nations Championship after playing to a 3-3 draw against Uganda in Kampala. Goals from Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Thabiso Kutumela, and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo gave South Africa a 3-1 lead; however, they conceded two late penalties. Uganda finished as Group C winners, while Algeria and South Africa both finished on six points, but Bafana Bafana fell short on goal difference. Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki says he is proud of the players:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-414-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-340-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….