News 12:00

BULLETIN 12 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau says South Africa will submit a revised tariff offer to the US
# The Germiston Home Affairs building is set alight amid an eviction protest
# And rugby: The Bok Women’s coach believes he has the right balance in the World Cup squad

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says cabinet has approved that South Africa submit a revised offer to the US as a basis for negotiations. He, together with Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen, gave a briefing on the government’s response to the 30-percent tariff imposed by the US on imported South African goods. Tau says key US trade concerns are poultry, blueberries and pork:

# The Germiston Home Affairs building in Gauteng has been set alight this morning during violent clashes over evictions in the CBD. Protesters reportedly demanded to occupy the Pharoe Park flats rent-free. Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, police, and traffic officials have been deployed to the scene. Authorities have closed President, Queen, and Jack Streets as firefighters battle the blaze and law enforcement works to restore order. The situation has raised concerns over potential damage to critical government services.

# The Western Cape High Court will, over the next two days, hear applications for leave to appeal the convictions and life sentences in the Joslin Smith case. Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn were sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of human trafficking and ten-years for kidnapping in May. This is in connection with the disappearance of Smith’s young daughter in February last year. Judge Nathan Erasmus will also determine whether former-accused-turned state witness, Lourentia Lombaard, should be criminally charged. Joslin has still not been found.

Moving abroad:

# A British backpacker who was in Western Australia on a working holiday visa, has pleaded guilty to killing a man after hitting him while riding an e-scooter with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. Twenty-five-year old Alicia Kemp and a friend hired the scooter after being kicked out of a bar for being drunk. She hit 51-year-old Thanh Phan in Perth’s city centre. The father-of-two hit died in hospital two days later. Kemp will remain in custody until her sentencing.

# Rugby: The Springbok Women’s squad is assembling in Johannesburg today before departing for the World Cup in England on Thursday. Thirty-two players, led by Nolusindiso Booi, have been selected, with the squad boasting a combined total of 689 Test caps. South Africa will face Brazil, Italy, and France in Pool D. Bok Women head coach Swys de Bruin says what excites him most are the combinations they will work with, which he believes will push them towards the play-offs:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-69-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-883-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-350-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-49-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….