News 13:00

BULLETIN 7 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Hlabisa officially proclaims the date for the local government election
# A Thai teen shoots dead eight people including his grandparents
# And athletics: Team SA bags two bronze medals at the Under-20 Championships

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has officially proclaimed 4 November in the Government Gazette as the date for the local government election. He spoke to the SABC, urging eligible citizens to register before the voters’ roll closes at midnight. Hlabisa encouraged communities to use the ballot box to hold councilors accountable, as voting demands better service delivery and strengthen local democracy:

# Deputy minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, says government has made notable progress in advancing women’s rights and representation in leadership structures since 1994. Women now make up approximately 43.5-percent of members of Parliament, while women occupy senior positions across government, Parliament and the judiciary. This year, South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Women’s March. Morolong says despite these gains, women continue to face significant challenges:

# Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, has reaffirmed the department’s commitment to improve service delivery following a series of unannounced oversight visits to social security agency SASSA’s local offices. She welcomed improvements in queue management and the separation of service points according to beneficiaries’ needs. Pule says these measures have enhanced efficiency, reduced waiting times and improved the overall client experience. She emphasises while challenges remain, continuous oversight and improved communication will ensure social grants reach the rightful beneficiaries in a fair, transparent and efficient manner.

Moving abroad:

# A 14-year-old boy shot and killed eight people in Thailand this morning, while at least 22 were wounded. He first killed his grandparents at his home on the outskirts of Bangkok and then proceeded to his school, the Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where he killed three teachers and three learners. The teenager then shot himself and died on the way to hospital. Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau says a handgun and over 60 rounds of ammunition were found scattered inside the school.

# Athletics: Sixteen-year-old shot putter Jaco van Dyk secured South Africa’s first medal at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Oregon in the USA. He won bronze in a new personal best with a massive throw of 19.80 metres. Marko Ferreira claimed bronze in the men’s 100 metres in a time of 10.16 seconds. Kryn Romijn and Leendert Koekemoer have qualified for the men’s 400-metres final. Werner Gouws and Emil Els are into the men’s 800-metres semifinals, and Jan-Hendrik Heymans has qualified for the final of the men’s javelin.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-26-cents and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-763-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-307-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-3-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….