News 14:00

BULLETIN 24 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga commission orders Matlala to continue with his testimony
# Pope Leo urges global action to confront the DRC’s Ebola outbreak
# And rugby: Minimal changes to the Bok team for the second Test in Cape Town

# The Madlanga commission has rejected Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s request to stand down his testimony until tomorrow. He resumed testimony today after previously declining to answer questions linked to the 228-million-rand Police Medicare24 tender. His legal team cited difficulties accessing him at Kgosi Mampuru prison. Advocate Fatima Missi explained the late submission of Matlala’s unsigned affidavit, while chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga raised concerns over the request. He ordered arguments to proceed:

# The United Progressive People Alliance says it will contest Tshwane with 70 ward candidates. It has unveiled a six-point plan to rebuild the metro ahead of the November local government elections. The plan includes addressing Tshwane’s institutional and financial challenges while restoring dignity to communities. The alliance says it is stepping up its campaign to offer residents a credible alternative focused on competent governance, reliable basic services, clean administration, safety and economic opportunity.

# Union GIWUSA says the Government-Business Partnership offers no real hope to the more than 13-million unemployed citizens. President Cyril Ramaphosa launched phase 3 last week. The partnership is aimed at driving reforms, boosting investment and creating jobs. GIWUSA’s president, Mametlwe Sebei, says the neoliberal policies that government is committed to are an absolute failure:

Moving abroad:

# Pope Leo is calling for international action to help ​contain the impact of an Ebola outbreak ‌in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has so far claimed more than two-thousand-500 lives. According to United Nations ​officials, the outbreak ​has spread rapidly across a vast ​area of the Central African country. The pontiff told ‌pilgrims ⁠gathered in Saint Peter’s square he oftens remember the DRC in his prayers. It is the country’s 17th Ebola ​epidemic, ⁠and late last month it became the biggest in history.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made minimal changes for Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town after they went down 33-16 to the old foes in the first Test at Ellis Park. Siya Kolisi will return if he is fit, otherwise Paul de Villiers will retain the number six jersey. Handré Pollard and Cobus Reinach will start as the halfback pairing, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on the bench. Ethan Hooker replaces injured wing Cheslin Kolbe. Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the Boks in his 100th Test.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-2-cents and the euro at 18-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-845-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-643-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….