News 09:00

BULLETIN 16 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party is pleased with the first day of the national convention
# ActionSA welcomes the Human Rights probe into minister McKenzie
# And, today marks 13 years since the Marikana massacre

# The GOOD Party described the first day of the national convention in Pretoria as productive. The convention serves as a precursor to the national dialogues, which are due to take place across the country over the next nine months. GOOD’s National Youth Chairperson, Kaden Arguile, says their participation in the convention is to ensure that the talks being held do lead to decisive action to tackle inequality, unemployment, and the exclusion of young people from the economy:

# ActionSA has welcomed the confirmation by the South African Human Rights Commission that it is investigating the party’s complaint against the Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie. This is over his past social media posts, which have been deemed racist and xenophobic. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley says McKenzie’s remarks constitute prima facie violations of the provisions of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. He says racism must be confronted with consequences, no matter who the perpetrator is:

# The Freedom Front Plus in Gauteng says it is more than ready to bring stability to coalitions as a bigger and stronger governing partner following the local government elections in 2026. Gauteng is governed by the Government of Provincial Unity, which includes the ANC, IFP, and RISE Mzansi. The FF Plus’s Jaco Mulder says sustainable and meaningful progress in coalition governments does not depend on the size of a single party, but on the strength and reliability between all governing partners:

# The family of the late former Zambian president, Edgar Lungu, has turned to the Constitutional Court in an urgent bid to appeal the judgment by the High Court in Pretoria. The court found that the Zambian government is entitled to repatriate Lungu’s remains for a state funeral and burial. In an affidavit, Lungu’s widow, Esther, argues that no one should be compelled to bury their loved one per the dictates of the State. She states that the interests of justice demand an urgent direct appeal.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana missed out on an opportunity to move up to second in Group C following a goalless draw with Niger in the African Nations Championship in Kampala. South Africa controlled most of the possession but was unable to find the breakthrough goal. Meanwhile, Algeria came from behind to hold Guinea to a 1-1 draw. Algeria and South Africa are now tied on five points, a point behind leaders Uganda. Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki says his players gave their all:

# And finally: Today marks 13 years since police in Marikana, North West, gunned down 34 mineworkers. Ten other people, including security guards and police officers, were killed in the six-week wildcat strike at Lonmin mine before the massacre. In addition to the deaths, at least another 78 of the miners were severely injured, and approximately 250 were arrested. According to the Farlam Commission of Inquiry report, police fired over 500 rounds of live ammunition at the infamous Marikana koppie. To date, the National Prosecuting Authority has only prosecuted nine police officers.

Stay tuned for more news………….