News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Tebogo Malaka’s denials of her role in the bribe attempt are refuted
# The International Criminal Court rejects new US sanctions against its judges and prosecutors
# And rugby: The Springbok Women aim to bounce back against Brazil

# The Daily Maverick has released new footage of journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s infamous meeting with suspended Independent Development Trust Tebogo Malaka. In an interview with eNCA, Malaka denied her role in the highly publicised 60-thousand-rand bribe attempt, claiming that she was set up. She admitted to meeting Myburgh but maintained she did not initiate the encounter, placing the blame on IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane. The Daily Maverick says in the new footage, Malaka can be heard discussing a cash bribe and further lucrative tenders in exchange for Myburgh’s silence.

# Saftu says it disagrees with the assertion by KwaZulu‑Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that union demands for higher salaries are hampering efforts to fill policing vacancies. He blamed the country’s rising unemployment rate on trade unions, which he said continually demanded more money from their members. Saftu’s spokesperson, Asive Dyani, says Mkhwanazi’s perspective risked distorting public understanding of a far more serious issue: decades of neoliberal austerity and budget cuts that have hollowed out the police service:

# ActionSA in Johannesburg says it rejects mayor Dada Morero’s reckless decision to appoint Sithembiso Zungu as mayoral committee member for Group Corporate and Shared Services. He has been allegedly involved in three reported instances of construction mafia activities. ActionSA’s Marcel Coutriers says with this appointment, the mayor has demonstrated a blatant disregard for good governance and has confirmed that political expediency, rather than integrity, guides the ANC’s appointments:

# The International Criminal Court has rejected new US sanctions on its judges and prosecutors. The US State Department has imposed new sanctions on two judges and two prosecutors in the ICC for engaging in efforts to prosecute American and Israeli citizens. The ICC says these sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution, which operates under the mandate of 125 States Parties from all regions. It adds that it will continue fulfilling its mandate, undeterred, in strict accordance with its legal framework.

# Rugby: South Africa’s Women’s World Cup opener against Brazil at Franklin’s Garden in Northampton, England, on Sunday will be a first Test between the two nations. Springbok utility back Nadine Roos, who faced Brazil four times in the 2024 Sevens series, says the team is determined to reverse past defeats. She emphasises teamwork and shutting down Brazil’s space on the ball, as the squad steps up training ahead of the clash:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-69-cents and the euro at 20-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-976-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-340-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….