News 14:00

BULLETIN 6 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Road Traffic Infringement Agency confirms the demerit system is to commence in December
# A forum accuses the SABC of retaliation after a journalist is reportedly fired over pursuing back pay
# And Olympic Games: Trump says there will be gender testing for women’s sports at the 2028 Games

# The Road Traffic Infringement Agency will begin phasing in the long-awaited demerit point system from 1 December, starting with 69 municipalities. Spokesperson, Monde Mkalipi, told Newzroom Afrika a further 144 municipalities will follow from the first of April next year. The system targets serious road offences linked to high fatalities. Mkalipi emphasised that repeat offenders may lose their licences, while a 50-percent fine discount and dispute resolution mechanism will be available:

# The Activist and Citizens Forum says workers’ rights are being violated at the SABC. This follows the dismissal of veteran journalist Mercedes Besent. The forum claims the Communication Workers Union representative was fired for pursuing outstanding back pay agreements on behalf of workers. The forum’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, urges Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi and Parliament’s portfolio committee on Communications to urgently investigate the allegations to restore the broadcaster’s integrity:

# Residents of the Greater Frances Baard District in the Northern Cape have questioned the Marriage Bill’s commitment to gender equality during public hearings in Kimberley. Concerns include the omission of polyandry, inadequate protections for religious leaders, and the lack of recognition for Islamic marriages. They also called for revisions to protect both religious conscience and LGBTQI+ rights. Traditional leaders welcomed the recognition of customary marriages, while some religious groups objected to same-sex marriage clauses, citing conflicting beliefs.

Moving abroad:

# Israeli Defence minister Israel Katz says Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir could express his views, but the military would ultimately have to execute any government decisions on Gaza. Katz’s statement on X came after reports in the Israeli media in recent days suggested that Zamir is opposed to a government plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip. Local media reported that Netanyahu would gather his security cabinet tomorrow to make a final decision on the next steps in the war in the Palestinian territory.

# Olympic Games: US president Donald Trump says he thought the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee would have cracked down on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports even without his influence. He has signed an executive order to establish a White House task force to coordinate the federal government’s preparations for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Trump says there will be a very strong form of mandatory gender testing for women’s sport at the event:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-83-cents and the euro at 20-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-903-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-365-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….