News 12:00

BULLETIN 6 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament extends the ad hoc committee’s mandate for a fifth time
# Ramaphosa notes the recommendations and referrals of the Madlanga commission’s second interim report
# And Solidarity warns the Tulbagh factory’s closure could trigger a social crisis

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has extended the mandate of the ad hoc committee investigating KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations until September 11. The committee was established to investigate alleged corruption, political interference, and criminal cartel infiltration in the Police Service. Its previous mandate expired at the end of last month, but it failed to complete its work. Didiza says assembly rules allow the committee’s deadline to be extended until its task is concluded.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has noted the recommendations and referrals contained in the second interim report of the Madlanga commission. It was submitted on 29 May, following the submission of the first interim report on 17 December. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the commission has recommended disciplinary proceedings and the immediate investigation of criminal conduct against Shadrack Sibiya, Fannie Nkosi, Brown Mogotsi and Witness G:

# Forum for South Africa has welcomed the recall of South Africa’s high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal. He, former president Jacob Zuma and a suspected mastermind behind state capture, Ajay Gupta, were seen together at a religious ceremony at a Hindu temple in Haridwar in the north of India in June. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says South African diplomats must represent the country’s values and interests and protect its international reputation:

# Trade union Solidarity says the possible closure of the Premier Foods fruit canning factory in Tulbagh in the Western Cape could have a devastating impact on the community. Talks by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on the proposed closure have commenced. The union’s Gideon du Plessis says 424 direct and thousands of indirect jobs are at risk, blaming declining global demand and higher US import tariffs:

# Tennis: German top seed Alexander Zverev and fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia have been knocked out of the Canadian Open in Montreal. Zverev was ousted by Tallon Griekspoor, while another Dutchman, Botic van de Zandschulp, defeated Medvedev. Seventh-seeded American Taylor Fritz lost to Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante. In the women’s draw in Toronto, American Coco Gauff defeated compatriot Kayla Day, while Alexandra Eala of the Philippines battled past American Alycia Parks.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-33-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-753-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-265-dollars-72-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-33-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….