News 12:00

BULLETIN 14 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fadiel Adams questions his arrest and disputes Parliament’s laptop claims
# A party says 14 years after Marikana workers still battle poverty and low wages
# And rugby: The All Blacks’ coach says player performances against the Bulls could settle selection for the Boks Test

# National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams does not understand why he was arrested instead of being asked to provide a warning statement. He stands accused of fraud and defeating the ends of justice in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu Natal. The case has been postponed to 11 September, while he will testify before the Madlanga commission next week. Adams accuses Parliament of becoming involved in disputes over his parliamentary laptop:

# The Workers and Socialist Party has renewed its call for a living wage and justice for the victims of the Marikana massacre in North West. The party says mineworkers continue to face low wages, unemployment and poor living conditions, while no one has been held accountable for the 2012 killings. The party’s Zaki Mamdoo calls for a 15-thousand-rand minimum wage, more job creation and the nationalisation of mines:

Moving abroad:

# At least four people have died after record-breaking torrential rain triggered massive floods in Japan’s Chiba region. Five people have been injured, and one is missing, while more than 400-thousand people have been urged to evacuate. More than 45-thousand homes have lost power, as the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued the highest level five warning for heavy rains and landslides. Chiba Governor Kumagai Toshihito says they will continue to prioritise saving lives, minimising damage, and exploring measures to facilitate a swift recovery.

# Rugby: All Blacks coach Dave Rennie says players could still force their way into the squad for the first Test against the Springboks with their performance against the Bulls. He has named a strong squad for tomorrow’s match at Loftus Versfeld, but insists it’s quite different to the team for next Saturday’s Test at Ellis Park. Rennie still faces selection dilemmas in positions such as scrumhalf, lock, loose forward and wing:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 18-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-645-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-344-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Nominations are now open for the 2027 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards, recognising talented South African artists under the age of 35 years. The awards cover a range of creative fields, including music, theatre, dance, visual arts, poetry and film. Winners will receive financial support, greater exposure and an opportunity to present new work at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape. The bank’s Bonga Sebesho says nominations close at the end of this month.

Stay tuned for more news………….