News 08:00

BULLETIN 24 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s Education Committee is  concerned about the BELA Act rollout
# The police reappoint 353 detectives to tackle the case backlog
# And rugby: The Springboks go back to basics to beat Australia

# Parliament’s Education Portfolio Committee has raised alarm over delays in implementing the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. Chairperson Joy Maimela says only two of eight regulations have been gazetted, creating confusion and undermining inclusivity goals. Maimela also highlighted critical gaps in Grade R infrastructure, funding and teacher training. She has called on Basic Education Department to urgently finalise regulations and strengthen school safety measures to ensure fair, quality education.

# The South African Police Service has advertised 353 vacancies for former detectives on fixed-term contracts, reappointing them at their previous ranks. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the reappointment will ease the backlog and improve case resolution as detectives currently face 300 dockets each. Meanwhile, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union has welcomed the move, highlighting a one-thousand-rand allowance for reintegration, saying it will boost South Africa’s investigative capacity.

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions general-secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, has hailed whistleblowers as unsung heroes in South Africa’s fight against corruption. Speaking at the fourth anniversary of Babita Deokaran’s assassination yesterday, he urged the Special Investigating Unit to expose and prosecute the masterminds behind her killing. Deokaran was gunned down in 2021 after exposing the Gauteng Health Department corruption. He also highlighted that the country is not beyond saving despite challenges:

# Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says new policing methods are needed to combat crime, with the province pushing for metro policing. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Winde argued provinces should have powers to conduct investigations and gather intelligence against gangsterism and gun violence. This comes as Cape Town Council passed a motion to seek the devolution of policing powers. He stressed data-driven, technology-based strategies and local decision-making deliver better crime-fighting results:

# The UN’s aid chief Tom Fletcher says Friday’s famine report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification is “irrefutable”. He said in a social media statement that it is a famine that could have been prevented if aid had been allowed.  However, food stacks up at borders because of systematic obstruction by Israel, resulting in a famine within a few hundred metres of food in a fertile land. Fletcher pleaded with Prime Minister Netanyahu to open all the crossings, to let food and other supplies in, unimpeded, and at the massive scale required.

# And rugby: The Springboks reignited the defence of their Rugby Championship title by beating Australia 30-22 in their second test in Cape Town on Saturday. Australia had stunned the world champions 38-22 in their competition opener in Johannesburg the previous weekend. Handre Pollard put in a commanding performance at flyhalf and kicked 15 points to go with tries by wing Canan Moodie, No 8 Kwagga Smith and lock Eben Etzebeth. The Wallabies were in the fight all the way and scored three tries through wings Corey Toole and Max Jorgensen, and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa.

Stay tuned for more news………….