News 09:00

BULLETIN 12 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# TLU SA is concerned about the impact of the new Mineral Resources Bill
# Judges Matter welcomes formal policies on sexual harassment
# And Mixed Martial Arts: Du Plessis says he is the underdog in his next fight

# The agriculture organisation TLU SA says the country’s agricultural sector is under serious threat due to the proposed Mineral Resources Development Amendment Bill. The bill aims to address key regulatory gaps, streamline licensing processes, and ensure equitable distribution of mining benefits. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the broad application of small-scale and artisanal mining permits as proposed in the bill could lead to a dramatic increase in mining activities on agricultural land without the necessary environmental and agricultural controls:

# Judges Matter says Chief Justice Mandisa Maya’s new Sexual Harassment Policy for the judiciary is a step towards safer courts. According to the new policy, there will be zero tolerance for sexual harassment, with accountability ensured through disciplinary action, a safe workplace, and a confidential, fair, and retaliation-protected reporting system. Judges Matter says the courts have long held an institutional culture of secrecy and denial when it comes to rampant issues of sexual harassment. It adds that the importance of formal policies to combat sexual harassment cannot be overstated.

# The DA Gauteng is urging premier Panyaza Lesufi to convert all hostels in the province into viable family units under the Hostel Redevelopment Programme. The party recently conducted an oversight inspection at the Khutsong hostel, which is home to approximately one-thousand-500 residents. The DA’s Mervyn Cirota says the hostel is plagued by broken windows, deep cracks in the walls, and a complete lack of water supply, while sanitation conditions are deplorable:

# The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, has condemned the killing of six journalists in Gaza. Five Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Two others were killed, including a freelance journalist. Israel’s military said it targeted Sharif, alleging he had served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says at least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began nearly three years ago:

# Mixed Martial Arts: South African fighter Dricus du Plessis says he is the underdog in his third defence of his middleweight world championship title. He faces Khamzat Chimaev in Chicago, Illinois, this weekend. Du Plessis has a 23-2 win-loss professional record and is on an 11-fight victory streak. But he believes the Russian is the best opponent he’d ever faced. Chimaev is undefeated after 14 professional fights. Du Plessis says what’s in his favour is his unique style that makes it very difficult for anyone to mimic.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-999-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-352-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….