News 14:00

BULLETIN 21 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Commissioner Masemola says the killing of police members is deeply painful and unacceptable
# The Referendum Party slams the ANC for not abandoning race-based laws
# And Palestinians flee Gaza City as Israel says first stages of assault have begun

# National police commissioner Fannie Masemola says since the start of this financial year, South Africa’s have lost six police officials in the line of duty. Masemola says the killings and attacks of police members are deeply painful and unacceptable. The commissioner says the ministry reminds police members to never hesitate to defend themselves when confronted with danger, and to use the resources provided to them to uphold the authority of the state:

# The Referendum Party says faced with growing international pressure to abandon race-based laws, the ANC has decided to entrench them further. The party’s Robert King says this month marks 40 years since PW Botha’s infamous Rubicon speech, a turning point where South Africa rejected reform and chose isolation. He says four decades later, deputy president Paul Mashatile is sounding eerily similar. King says it is laughable for Mashatile to claim race laws are needed for inclusive growth:

Meanwhile, the EFF says South Africa does not owe the US explanations for its sovereign diplomatic and military engagements. This comes as the US government has asked South Africa for clarification on its policy on Iran, following Defence Force chief General Rudzani Maphwanya’s controversial trip to that country. The EFF says the country must not succumb to bullying and intimidation from America. It adds that South Africa must continue to engage freely with Iran and all other nations it chooses to, without reducing its foreign policy to the emotions of US president Donald Trump.

# Palestinians are fleeing parts of Gaza City after the Israeli military began the first stages of a ground offensive. Officials say Israeli soldiers have established a foothold on the outskirts of the city after days of intense bombing and artillery fire. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire to avoid the death and destruction he says an assault would inevitably cause. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he was shortening the timelines for seizing what he describes as the last terror strongholds in Gaza.

# Rugby: Bulls flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain will join English Premiership team Newcastle Red Bulls after the Currie Cup competition. The former Under 20 Springbok, a product of Paarl Boys’ High, played 59 matches for the Pretoria team since joining from the Sharks last year, scoring over 150 points in all competitions. Twenty-six-year-old Chamberlain is described as a talented goal kicker who can also play fullback. Red Bull’s take-over of struggling Newcastle is their first investment in the sport, having already have significant interests in soccer and motorsports.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 20-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-437-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-338-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-1-cent a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….