News 11:00

BULLETIN 9 August 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Herman Mashaba says ActionSA wants to play a key role in municipal coalitions
# Eskom welcomes the Kusile corruption convictions
# And soccer: Banyana Banyana’s World Cup dreams are delayed

# ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says the party wants enough seats to become a key player in governing major municipalities. Speaking in KwaMashu, Durban, Mashaba said ActionSA is targeting eThekwini, KwaDukuza and Newcastle, where it already has a presence. Mashaba says the party aims to influence coalition governments rather than necessarily secure outright majorities. He also stressed a push for stricter action on immigration, jobs creation, policing, and service delivery:

Meanwhile, ActionSA says KwaZulu-Natal must move from opposition benches to government, with the party’s Tshwane mayoral candidate Nasiphi Moya, highlighting eThekwini’s importance to the province’s economy. Moya said failures in infrastructure, sewage and municipal governance hurt businesses, tourism, investment and jobs. She says ActionSA councillors have challenged outsourcing, and demanded greater accountability in municipal spending. She says the party is hungry to deliver services to communities:

# Eskom has welcomed the convictions of former contractor Michael Lomas and businessman Hudson Kgomoeswana over procurement irregularities and corruption in the past linked to the Kusile Power Station project. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says the convictions mark another milestone in efforts to hold accountable those accused of misusing public funds. She says the utility will continue working with stakeholders to recover losses, while tightening procurement oversight and governance:

# South Africans continue to face mounting financial pressure as the cost of a basic household food basket has risen from just over three-thousand-400 in 2020 to more than five-thousand-500 this year – an increase of 62-percent. Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop, says rising fuel and transport costs, inflation, interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations and global economic pressures continue to drive food prices higher. She says these factors are squeezing household budgets despite some signs of easing fuel prices.

# And finally, news from the world of soccer:

# Banyana Banyana have missed out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 2–1 quarterfinal defeat to hosts Morocco at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat. The loss ended South Africa’s title defence and eliminated them from the tournament’s main competition. However, Desiree Ellis’ side still has a route to the World Cup through classification play-offs. The quarterfinal losers will compete for places in the FIFA inter-confederation play-off tournament.

# And lastly: Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi is mourning the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who has died aged 68 after a prolonged illness. Jorge passed away yesterday morning at a medical clinic in Rosario, Argentina. He was a key figure in Lionel’s soccer career nationally and internationally since he was 14, serving as his representative and confidant. Jorge helped his son become arguably the best player of all time. Tributes have been pouring in from the Argentine Football Association and football organisations worldwide.

Stay tuned for more news………….