News 12:00

BULLETIN 30 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Saftu urges government to take decisive action to ensure that schools are safe
# The Blitzboks land in Cape Town with their Olympic bronze medals
# And, Tshwane welcomes the recognition of the Union Building as an UNESCO World Heritage Site

# Union federation Saftu urges government to take decisive action to ensure the protection of learners and teachers at school. This comes after two gunmen yesterday shot and killed a teacher in full view of learners and her colleagues at Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma, Durban. Saftu’s spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, says schools should at all times remain sanctuaries of safety and learning:

Meanwhile, the Save South Africa Civic Movement is calling on president Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency on crime. The country’s murder rate went up by two-percent in the last quarter of 2023, with nearly eight-thousand people murdered, but sexual offences declined slightly. The movement’s spokesperson, Tebogo Mashilompane, says the country is in the hands of criminals, and the only strategic way to face crime head-on is through the declaration of a state of emergency:

# The South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association has welcomed Parliament’s commitment to revitalise the South African National Defence Force. The portfolio committee on Defence and Military Veterans has affirmed it would prioritise the securing of sufficient funding, especially for the current SANDF deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The association says it is willing and ready to partner with government to strengthen the country’s defence and security capabilities.

# Olympic Games : The South African men’s sevens rugby team is set to arrive at Cape Town International Airport this afternoon from Paris. Coached by Philip Snyman and captained by Selvyn Davids, the team secured bronze by defeating Australia 26-19 in the third-place playoff. Despite a challenging season and last-minute Olympic qualification, Snyman credits the victory to the players’ dedication.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-947-dollars-79-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-390-dollars-5-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Tshwane’s Community and Social Development Services Department has welcomed the latest inscription of South African human rights and liberation struggle sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The sites include the Union Buildings and Constitution Hill. The department says this inscription is significant as these sites are legally protected by international treaties and recognised as holding importance for all of humanity. It adds that the sites are culturally and historically significant.

Stay tuned for more news………….