News 09:00

BULLETIN 14 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Motshekga will discuss the remarks by the SANDF head in Iran with him
# AgriSA demands a withdrawal of the draft Mining Bill
# One is left dead after e-hailing vehicles were torched at Maponya Mall

# The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans has distanced itself from comments made by South African National Defence Force General, Rudzani Maphwanya, in Iran. During a meeting in Tehran, Maphwanya and Iran’s army commander, Major General Amir Hatami, reportedly commended their countries’ common goal of fighting global arrogance and aggressive colonial approaches. Maphwanya also denounced Israel’s bombing of Palestinians while they are standing in line for food. The ministry’s spokesperson, Onicca Kwakwa, says minister Angie Motshekga will engage with Maphwanya:

Meanwhile, the DA says foreign policy is the government’s responsibility and not the military’s. The party warns that Maphwanya’s political statements could harm South Africa’s relations with key allies, including the US. The DA’s Chris Hattingh says Maphwanya went beyond military discussions by supporting Iran’s stance on Gaza and calling for closer ties:

# AgriSA has urged government to withdraw the draft Mineral Resources Development Amendment Bill, warning it poses risks to agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. The organisation says the Bill allows mining on prime farmland without proper consultation, compensation, or environmental safeguards. AgriSA calls for a full socioeconomic impact assessment and stronger landowner consent laws. They insist on balanced resource development that protects farmers’ rights, water quality, and long-term food security while ensuring mining coexists with agriculture.

# One person was killed and two others injured after e-hailing vehicles were attacked by unknown suspects at Maponya Mall in Pimville, Soweto, south of Johannesburg, yesterday evening. Police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, says an e-hailing vehicle was seen stopping at the entrance of the mall when about four men approached the driver and shot at him before torching the vehicle. She says another nearby vehicle was shot at, and the driver managed to flee:

# Tennis: Defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy is through to the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals after beating French qualifier Adrian Mannarino, 6-4, 7-6. World number two Carlos Alcaraz of Spain eased past Italian Luca Nardi, 6-1, 6-4, while French qualifier Terence Atmane stunned American Taylor Fritz, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Meanwhile, the women’s defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Poland’s Iga Swiatek also made the last eight with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-51-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 123-thousand-392-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-360-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….