News 09:00

BULLETIN 13 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF is calling for an urgent public works programme to tackle the unemployment
# The DA says police system failures have led to illegal gun offenders walking free
# And Britain’s migration policy is criticised

# The EFF has expressed alarm at the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey results, saying these figures come at a time when the economy is stagnant. The official unemployment rate has risen to 33.2-percent in the second quarter of this year. The EFF says the government of national unity has no plan to stimulate growth in struggling provinces, protect jobs in declining sectors, and channel resources where they are most needed. The party says an urgent state-led mass public works programme targeting infrastructure, housing, industry, and rural development is needed.

# The DA says it is concerning that the National Prosecuting Authority cannot track whether SAPS arrests for illegal firearm possession lead to prosecutions or convictions. Between January 2020 and December 2024, Western Cape police reported 13-thousand-727 arrests for illegal firearm possession. However, only one-thousand-745 cases ended in convictions, while one-thousand-897 were struck off the roll. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says the NPA has admitted that cases are often withdrawn due to incomplete investigations or poor-quality evidence:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the African Union-Africa water investment programme summit from today until Friday in Cape Town. Held under South Africa’s G20 presidency, the event will focus on climate-resilient water and sanitation projects across Africa. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the summit will also produce a declaration on water investments to shape continental and global water agendas ahead of next year’s United Nations water conference.

# UK Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, has criticised the government’s policy on migration. The latest data shows that more than 50-thousand migrants have crossed the English Channel on small boats since Keir Starmer became prime minister. According to the International Organisation for Migration, at least 20 people have died this year attempting to cross the Channel. Badenoch told Sky News that the Labour Party does not have a deterrent plan:

# Tennis: Five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz is through to the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard cruised past Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, 6-4, 6-4, to secure a tour-leading 50th victory of the season. Russia’s Andrey Rublev battled past Australian Alexei Popyrin, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5. In the women’s draw, American Coco Gauff moved into the last 16 without striking a ball after her opponent, Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, withdrew citing an illness. Italian Jasmine Paolini and Czech Barbora Krejcikova are also through to the round of 16.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-56-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-763-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-351-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….