News 13:00

BULLETIN 13 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Department of Minerals assesses the circumstances around the deadly Nkaneng mine incident
# Karoline Leavitt will step down as the White House’s press secretary
# And rugby: Richie Mo’unga is called up to the All Blacks’ squad following Billy Proctor’s injury

# The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says the tragedy at a disused mine in Nkaneng near Rustenburg in North West occurred within the boundaries of an area where a valid mining permit has been issued. The bodies of 14 suspected illegal miners were discovered in an abandoned mine shaft on Tuesday. The department’s spokesperson, Lerato Ntsoko, says the site is a surface opencast mining operation and does not include an underground mine shaft:

# Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has referred the department’s digitisation project to the Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks. She conducted an unannounced inspection at the High Court in Pretoria following complaints regarding the lack of services rendered. The department’s spokesperson, Palesa Rammitlwa, says Kubayi was informed the service disruptions were as a result of the denial of access to critical records by the service provider:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered condolences to the Zimbabwean government and people following the tragedy on Lake Kariba. At least 44 people died yesterday when an overcrowded ferry capsized after it was hit by a strong wave. Seventy-seven people have been rescued. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says thoughts are also with the survivors and families who await the outcome of continuing search operations:

# White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down at the end of the month to spend more time with her family. The 28-year-old has served in the role since president Donald Trump returned to power in January last year. Leavitt has faced frequent criticism for amplifying misinformation and curbing media freedom. Trump says in a post on Truth Social Leavitt will now serve as one of his top outside advisors and an influential voice within the Republican Party as they work to conclusively win the midterm elections.

# Rugby: All Blacks centre Billy Proctor has been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour after fracturing his shoulder blade in the 38–21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town last Friday. Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga has been called up as his replacement and is set to arrive in Johannesburg tomorrow. Thirty-two-year-old Mo’unga, who has played in Japan for the last three years, making him ineligible for New Zealand selection, has had to earn his way back by playing in the National Provincial Championship.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-15-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-647-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-380-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….