News 09:00

BULLETIN 20 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu condemns Mkhwebane’s endeavours to gain a payout
# Imatu is optimistic about a salary proposal for municipal workers
# And Hilary Clinton hails Kamala Harris as a champion of the middle class

# Cosatu says it is dumbfounded by former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s court bid to force her former office to pay her a ten-million-rand gratuity, even though she was removed from office. In February, Mkhwebane received a letter from her successor, Kholeka Gcaleka, informing her of the decision not to pay out her gratuity principally because she had not left the job of her own volition. Cosatu’s Zanele Sabela says they condemn Mkhwebane’s attempts to default the state of funds she is not entitled:

# Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union says it is cautiously optimistic that members would accept the new wage proposal tabled by the South African Local Government Association. The unions tabled a joint list of revised demands for an across-the-board increase of eight-percent in the first year. Salga’s new proposal is a five-year wage deal for increases of six-percent in the first year for municipal workers. Imatu general secretary Johan Koen says all its regions will have to give a mandate by next Wednesday on whether to accept or reject the offer.

# The City of Cape Town says it is making positive inroads in the relationship with the South African Police Service, but the criminal justice system as a whole needs urgent attention. In the past week, city enforcement agencies made 301 arrests and recorded 63-thousand-661 traffic and by-law offences. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says one suspect was arrested for the same offence, in the same area, in mid-July:

# Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says vice president Kamala Harris is the right person to lead the country forward as she is the champion for the middle class. Clinton lost against Donald Trump in 2016 and was the first female presidential nominee from a major party. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Clinton says they are close to seeing Harris on the other side of that glass ceiling and becoming America’s next president:

# Cricket: England have recalled Matthew Potts and Dan Lawrence for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting at Old Trafford tomorrow. Injuries to opening batter Zak Crawley and captain Ben Stokes have forced England to make changes from the side that completed a three-nil series win over West Indies in July. Seamer Potts will play his first Test in more than a year. In Stokes’ absence, Ollie Pope will lead the side while Harry Brook has been named vice-captain for the three-match series.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-810-dollars-99-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-501-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….