News 13:00

BULLETIN 4 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Five suspects are to be prosecuted over the deadly Jagersfontein tailings dam disaster
# Section27, TAC, and Sonke Gender Justice join a landmark case to decriminalise sex work
# And cricket: An injured Tony De Zorzi is out of the remaining two ODIs against England

# Government has confirmed that criminal proceedings are set to commence next week against five suspects in connection with the 2022 Jagersfontein tailings dam disaster in the Free State. Three people died when the dam wall broke. Department of Water and Sanitation’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, says the five suspects, who are employed by an engineering company, will face charges of murder, malicious damage to property and contravention of the Health and Safety Act:

# The Western Cape High Court has admitted Section27, representing the Treatment Action Campaign, and Sonke Gender Justice as friends of the court in a landmark case challenging South Africa’s criminalisation of sex work. The main hearing is set for 18 to 20 May next year in Cape Town. Section27’s Khuselwa Dyantyi says the organisations will present evidence on how the laws limit healthcare access, increase violence, and drive discrimination against sex workers:

# The National Treasury says its two-billion-rand smart-meter programme could help tackle Eskom’s ballooning municipal arrear debt, which has topped 100-billion-rand. Over 67-thousand smart meters were installed across eight municipalities last year, with a further 77-thousand-780 to be rolled out in eleven more municipalities this year. Treasury is aiming to install approximately 250-thousand smart meters by the 2027/28 financial year. Reports indicate that early results from Bela-Bela and Sol Plaatje municipalities show improved revenue collection.

# The National Council of SPCAs says it has lodged a detailed submission in opposition to the proposed regulations for the exportation of live animals by sea. The Department of Agriculture published the regulations for public comment in July. NSPCA’s Nazareth Appalsamy says in the regulations, there is no mandatory embargo on exports to the Middle East during the hottest periods of the year, when animals are most at risk of agonising heat stress:

# Cricket: Proteas batter Tony de Zorzi has been ruled out of the remainder of the one-day series against England due to a hamstring injury. He suffered the injury while fielding in the first ODI at Headingley on Tuesday, which South Africa won. No replacement has been named. Meanwhile, Matthew Breetzke has recovered from his left hamstring strain and is available for selection for the second ODI at Lord’s today.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-77-cents and the euro at 20-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-819-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-542-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….