News 12:00

BULLETIN 21 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF says the extradition ruling on Iain Wares is a victory for justice
# Barack Obama says America is ready for a better story with Harris as president
# And, rugby: Bok coach Rassie Erasmus expects a stern test against the All Blacks

# The EFF says the Western Cape High Court ruling to extradite former school teacher Iain Wares to Scotland is a victory for justice and the protection of the most vulnerable. The 85-year-old is accused of at least 74 sexual offences by learners he taught at Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy in the 1960s and ’70s. The EFF says this case highlights the deeply troubling fact that South Africa harboured a paedophile for decades, allowing him to continue his predatory behaviour unchecked.

Meanwhile, education activist Hendrick Makaneta is urging the Department of Basic Education and relevant authorities to install CCTV cameras in schools around Eldorado Park in Gauteng. Last week, two armed men entered Willow Crescent Secondary School and opened fire, wounding two learners. At Lancea Vale Secondary School, a learner was stabbed, and yesterday a fire damaged three classrooms. Makaneta says the safety of learners and teachers must be a priority:

# Former US president Barack Obama says Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, embody a return to an America where everyone looks out for each other. He delivered an impassioned endorsement of Harris on the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Obama says the vast majority of Americans don’t want to live in a country that’s bitter and divided:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says his players will have to be charged up physically and mentally for the two Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand. He named 37 players for the two sold-out Tests – at Ellis Park on the 31st of this month, and a week later in Cape Town. Steven Kitshoff, Jaden Hendrikse, and Canan Moodie return. Erasmus says they realise the importance of giving everything in these matches to keep alive their hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2019.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-83-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-340-dollars-24-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-509-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

# And finally, US pop star Taylor Swift concluded the UK and European run of her record-breaking Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium in London. She is the first solo artist to ever play at Wembley eight times in a single tour. This overtakes a record for any solo singer, which was set by Michael Jackson with his Bad Tour in 1988. In the UK alone, she performed to almost 1.2-million people. Swift is set to perform a string of shows in the US and Canada, including in Miami, New Orleans, and Indianapolis.

Stay tuned for more news………….