News 14:00

BULLETIN 25 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The deadline for registration for pre-consultation on apartheid-era cases is today
# Minister Gwarube says the National Education and Training Council will strengthen schools
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus sticks to the players that faced Australia to do the job against the All Blacks

# Families of victims, and survivors of apartheid-era human rights violations have until 4pm today to register for pre-consultations in the judicial commission of inquiry. President Cyril Ramaphosa established the commission in May to probe obstruction of Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases. The inquiry will examine whether officials influenced police or prosecutors to stall cases, possible collusion, and if constitutional damages are warranted. The commission must complete its work within six months and report within 60 days thereafter.

# Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube says systemic issues in the sector require long-term solutions. Speaking at the G20 Basic Education Indaba in Cape Town, she announced the operationalisation of the National Education and Training Council to advise on school resourcing, foundation phase support, and reviewing promotion policies. Gwarube stressed evidence-led reforms, youth participation, and bold realistic changes to strengthen early childhood development, literacy, and numeracy outcomes:

# Union federation Cosatu has urged Labour minister Makhosazana Meth to intervene after families of eleven fishermen who drowned aboard the MVF Lepanto west of Cape Town in May last year have not received compensation. Despite Western Cape High Court orders, delays and additional demands persist. Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela called on Transport minister Barbara Creecy to release the South African Maritime Safety Authority’s safety audit results to prevent further tragedies:

Moving abroad

# Vietnam closed schools and airports, and evacuated thousands of people as it braced for powerful Typhoon Kajiki to make landfall. The typhoon downed trees and soaked China’s southern Hainan Island yesterday before moving over the Gulf of Tonkin overnight with sustained wind speeds of 166 kilometres per hour. According to Vietnam’s national weather forecast agency, Kajiki is equivalent to a Category 2 Atlantic hurricane. It is the fifth typhoon to hit Vietnam this year and the most powerful. Kajiki is expected to make landfall later today.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus stuck to the players who did duty in their opening two Rugby Championship matches against Australia for next month’s tour to New Zealand. With wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe injured, Makazole Mapimpi will make the trip down under. The only forward that faced Australia to miss out on selection was utility forward Cobus Wiese, who has been placed on standby. His brother, Jasper, is still serving a suspension and will only be eligible for the second encounter in Wellington.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-54-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-107-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-365-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-56-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….