News 14:00

BULLETIN 27 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Auditor-General says only 13-percent of municipalities have achieved clean audits
# Nersa receives Eskom’s multi-year price determination revenue application
# And, rugby: Jasper Wiese returns as the Boks make nine changes for the All Blacks clash

# Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke announced only 13-percent of municipalities achieved clean audits in the 2022/’23 financial year. Out of 257 municipalities, just 34 met the required standards for financial and performance management. Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Maluleke says despite various interventions, most municipalities continue to struggle with transparency, compliance, and effective service delivery:

# The National Energy Regulator of South Africa says it has received Eskom’s sixth multi-year price determination revenue application for the next three financial years. The power utility is eyeing an average tariff increase of 36-percent next year. Nersa’s Charles Hlebela says Eskom’s application will be processed following all required procedures, which include assessment for regulatory compliance:

# The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town has begun its heritage impact assessment as part of its 20-billion-rand upgrade, which is expected to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years. The assessment, required by the National Heritage Resources Act, explores the site’s historical significance, from its origins as a working harbour to its role as a major tourism destination. Spokesperson Donald Kau says the vision is to establish the site as a residentially led, mixed-use development, including re-establishing public access to the ocean edge.

# Rugby: Jasper Wiese makes his first appearances of the season as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus rang the changes for the Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday. There are nine changes to the team that defeated the Wallabies in Perth, but only three changes to the match day squad that opened the series against the Aussies. Wiese is back from suspension while Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortjé will play in the second row as a result of injuries to six other locks.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-76-cents and the euro at 19-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-361-dollars-48-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-508-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer, Mariah Carey has announced the death of her mother, Patricia, and sister, Alison, both on the same day this past weekend. The 55-year-old expressed her deep sorrow, sharing that she was grateful to have spent her mother’s final week with her. Details on their causes of death remain unknown. Patricia was a former opera singer and vocal coach. Carey’s complicated relationships with her mother and sister were documented in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

Stay tuned for more news………….