News 08:00

BULLETIN 17 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the SADC Summit is an opportunity for South Africa
# Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala to appear before the Madlanga Commission today
# And, Donald Trump says the US will reduce its military exercises with South Korea

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the 46th Ordinary Southern African Development Community Summit, set to be held in Durban today, is an opportunity to renew their political commitment to further unite and integrate the region. He hosted a welcome dinner in eThekwini yesterday evening in honour of Heads of State, heads of delegations and special guests attending the summit. Ramaphosa says the summit is also an opportunity to strengthen Southern Africa’s collective resolve to improve the lives of citizens by building strong economies and vibrant societies:

# Deputy minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, says access to water has increased to 91.3-percent and sanitation to 85.6-percent under ANC rule over the past 32 years. Speaking at a media briefing on the ANC’s local government election manifesto review yesterday, he acknowledged that water remains one of the country’s most urgent service delivery challenges. Government has allocated 156-billion-rand over the next three years for water and sanitation infrastructure. Mahlobo maintained that more needs to be done to improve access for many communities:

# Criminally accused tenderpreneur, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, will appear before the Madlanga Commission today and tomorrow, a central figure in its investigation of criminal and political infiltration into the country’s justice system. He was initially scheduled to testify on September first, however, that has now been brought forward. Matlala first appeared before the commission in July but, in terms of a ruling handed down by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, his testimony was postponed. He is facing a litany of charges including influencing and bribing politicians and receiving an irregular 228-million-rand police wellness tender. 

# President Donald Trump says the US will substantially reduce military exercises it conducts with South Korea, citing his ‘very good relationship’ with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un. The joint exercises, called Ulchi Freedom Shield, are set to begin today, involving about 18-thousand South Korean troops, alongside US forces. On Truth Social, Trump says these military exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by America, but also send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile to a country that has been unthreatening and respectful.

# Golf: Four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler surged to an eight-shot victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, becoming the third-youngest player to reach 21 PGA Tour wins. The American posted a final-round score of 66 to finish on 17 under. South Korean Kim Si-woo carded a two-under 68 to finish second at nine-under. American Sam Burns finished tied-third with Sweden’s Alex Noren. Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy endured a difficult return to PGA Tour action after four weeks, finishing in 66th-place, 25 strokes behind Scheffler.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 18-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-91-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-287-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-390-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….