News 12:00

BULLETIN 8 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Activists and Citizens Forum calls on the Hawks to arrest the suspended the IDT CEO and spokesperson
# The FF Plus lodges a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against the Open Chats podcast
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus is committed to nurturing young players for the future

# The Activists and Citizens Forum is calling on the Hawks to arrest the suspended Independent Development Trust CEO, Tebogo Malaka, and spokesperson Phasha Makgolane. Daily Maverick published footage showing the two offering investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh 60-thousand-rand in cash to shut down a probe into corruption. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson has laid criminal charges against Malaka and Makgolane. The forum’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, says there is solid evidence to justify their immediate arrest:

# The Freedom Front Plus has formally lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against the presenters of the Open Chats podcast. The podcast went viral on TikTok, as in one episode, the hosts engaged in racially offensive stereotyping of coloured people. The FF Plus’ Grant Marais says it is unacceptable for individuals on a public platform to employ such hurtful stereotypes, to erode the human dignity of the coloured community, and foment hatred:

# A local court case can continue against a man wanted by UK authorities for 76 counts of sexual assault of young boys. The Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town dismissed former Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory teacher Iain Wares’s application to have the charges against him thrown out. Magistrate Vanessa Miki ruled the state had enough evidence to proceed. Women and Men Against Child Abuse’s Luke Lamprecht says the ruling is a vital step towards justice:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus plans to continue building squad depth and nurturing young talent for the future. The Boks wrapped up their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg which included three Junior Springbok World Rugby Under-20 Championship winners. Erasmus says Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead were exposed to what is required to perform at the highest level of the sport. The Boks will reassemble on Sunday, where their focus will turn to the Rugby Championship.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 20-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-844-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-399-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

# And finally: The South African Weather Services has issued a severe weather warning for the Western Cape and Namaqua regions. Level 2 impact-based warnings will be in effect for damaging waves and winds along the coastline starting from midnight tomorrow. Gale-force winds and waves of up to six metres high are expected between Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay and rain is also forcast. The service has strongly advised that small vessels and personal watercraft like kayaks should stay ashore during this period.

Stay tuned for more news………….