News 13:00

BULLETIN 27 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Freedom Under Law is concerned over the Justice minister’s alleged involvement in the VBS Bank scandal
# Government must ensure the SA Weather Service is well equipped to deliver on its mandate
# And, tennis: Coco Gauff is not putting pressure on herself as the US Open defending champion

# Freedom Under Law and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation have expressed concern over reports linking Justice minister Thembi Simelane to unlawful investments in VBS Mutual Bank during her tenure as Polokwane mayor eight years ago. Allegations suggest kickbacks were used to repay a loan for her coffee shop. Freedom Under Law’s Judith February urges the minister to address these allegations:

# Deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, says government must ensure that the SA Weather Service is well endowed with an extensive observational infrastructure network that enables it to deliver on its mandate efficiently. SAWS is the country’s authority for issuing severe weather-related warnings. In recent years, much of the country has experienced severe storm damage emanating from floods, tornadoes and even heatwaves. Swarts says a key part of building climate resilience is to set up early-warning systems:

# American rapper Macklemore has cancelled his October concert in Dubai, citing the United Arab Emirates’ alleged involvement in the Sudanese conflict.  His decision comes in response to the UAE’s reported support of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, which has been linked to a severe humanitarian crisis. The UAE has denied these allegations. The artist received calls to boycott the event in solidarity with the Sudanese people, where over 18-thousand-800 people have died, and millions have been displaced. The concert organisers have confirmed the cancellation and are offering refunds. 

# Tennis: US Open defending champion Coco Gauff says she is not putting pressure on herself. The American started her title defence with a dominant 6-2, 6-love victory over France’s Varvara Gracheva. World number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus beat Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon 6-3, 6-3, while 2017 champion Sloane Stephens of the US was knocked out by France’s Clara Burel. Gauff says her performance against Gracheva was the best she has played in a while:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-78-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-53-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-890-dollars-19-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-512-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

# And finally, a grade five learner at Laerskool Van Riebeeckstrand set a new record for the youngest swimmer to complete the Robben Island crossing. Ten-year-old Karli Fourie completed the 7.4-kilometre swim from Robben Island to Blouberg Beach alongside veteran swimmer Howard Warrington in three-hours-and-four-minutes. She undertook the swim to raise 50-thousand-rand for a charity supporting foster children in the Western Cape, Home From Home.

Stay tuned for more news………….