News 14:00

BULLETIN 13 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom spent 5.8-billion-rand on burning diesel to protect the grid
# COPE demands the postponement of the National dialogue
# And Trump’s administration is taking control of US museum exhibitions

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says Eskom uses diesel strategically to stabilise the grid during peak winter demand or unit failures. He confirmed that about 5.8-billion- of the 12-billion-rand diesel budget has been spent thus far, which is less than last winter’s 14.8-billion-rand for the same period. Ramokgopa says improved plant performance has created surplus generation at times, giving the economy space to grow on the back of a stable electricity supply:

# COPE supports the principle of a National Dialogue to address South Africa’s challenges and foster unity, but rejects Friday’s hastily planned National Convention. Acting national chairperson Pakes Dikgetsi warns the event could serve elite interests rather than the public. He says COPE demands a postponement, proper consultation, fair representation, and promises to share a detailed position paper outlining a truly inclusive national dialogue:

# The ANC’s parliamentary caucus says Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube’s decision to drip-feed the regulations required for the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, through a staggered and drawn-out process, is outrageous. Last week, the minister published the first two regulations under the BELA Act for public comment. The regulations relate to key issues like school admissions. The ANC’s Tshepo Louw says they will not stand by while the future of children is held hostage to bureaucratic games and political hesitation:

# Athletics: US Olympic medallist, Fred Kerley, has been provisionally suspended for an alleged anti-doping whereabouts violation. The World Anti-Doping Code states an athlete cannot miss three anti-doping tests within 12 months. Kerley’s lawyers say he intends to contest the allegation as one or more of his alleged missed tests should be set aside. They say this is either because he was not negligent or because the doping control official did not do what was reasonable under the circumstances to locate him at his designated location.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-50-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 120-thousand-339-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-361-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

# And finally: US president Donald Trump’s administration is taking control of museum exhibitions. It ordered a sweeping review of some Smithsonian museums to ensure their exhibitions laud American exceptionalism and remove divisive or partisan narratives. Trump has moved to assert control over major American cultural institutions since starting his second term in January, while also slashing arts and humanities funding. A letter to the institution’s secretary, Lonnie Bunch, published on the White House’s website, says the administration would carry out a comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions.

Stay tuned for more news………….