News 11:00

BULLETIN 15 August 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The FW de Klerk Foundation says the US human rights report must be a wake-up call for the government
# Over 50 people are dead and more than 200 are missing after flash flooding in India
# And rugby: Scott Barrett is back to lead the All Blacks against Argentina

# The FW de Klerk Foundation says the US report on human rights in South Africa should be a wake-up call for the government of national unity and the ANC. Much of the report by the US State Department is based on the enactment of the Expropriation Act, which states that the human rights situation in the country has worsened. The foundation says at the heart of this is that the country faces a serious breakdown in law and order, and urgent steps must be taken to restore order.

# The DA has welcomed the gazetting of the block exemption regulations for the sugar industry, saying this will provide some relief to an industry facing domestic and global headwinds. The exemption allows specific stakeholders in the sugar industry to collaborate on pricing methodologies and other activities typically restricted under the Competition Act. The DA’s Mlondi Mdluli says the exemption can help stabilise the industry and protect over 65-thousand jobs:

# Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has established a disciplinary board to investigate financial misconduct and unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Earlier this month, Finance minister Enoch Godongwana threatened to withdraw funding from the metro if the mayor did not come up with a comprehensive plan to address unauthorised expenditure and enforce consequence management. In the 2023/24 financial year, the metro incurred over 23-billion-rand in wasteful expenditure. Morero says progress has already been made:

Moving abroad:

# At least 56 people have been killed and over 200 are missing after flash floods struck the remote, mountainous village of Chashoti in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. Floods, triggered by torrential rains, have destroyed buildings, swept away cars, and turned roads into raging rivers. Rescue teams have brought 300 people to safety. Officials say rescue operations are ongoing with Army and police personnel working to find those missing. Last week, floodwater crashed through an entire Himalayan village in India’s Uttarakhand state, leaving four people dead.

# Rugby: Scott Barrett is back from injury to lead New Zealand in their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Córdoba tomorrow. He will start alongside Fabian Holland in the second row in one of nine changes to the team that finished the July series against France in Hamilton. Tupou Vaa’i also returns to action after missing the Hamilton Test through injury. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson is expecting a tough championship:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-55-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-101-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-341-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….