News 14:00

BULLETIN 29 August 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament demands an update from minister Solly Malatsi on the stalled SABC Bill
# The DA says Gauteng faces a catastrophic summer of water insecurity
# And cycling: Chris Froome has had surgery following a serious crash in France

# Parliament awaits Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi’s response on the stalled SABC Bill today. Portfolio committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko called Malatsi’s earlier plan to withdraw the bill as unconstitutional. She warned the public broadcaster may struggle to operate beyond December with just 193-million-rand in funding, far below the billions needed for infrastructure and technology. She stressed to SABC News that government support is crucial to fulfil its public mandate:

# The Western Cape High Court granted the provincial Mobility Department an urgent interdict to implement measures in response to the ongoing minibus taxi-related violence in Mfuleni, Somerset West, Nomzamo and Lwandle in Cape Town, which resulted in loss of life. Premier Alan Winde says the interim interdict is aimed at protecting commuters, operators and members of the public from further harm:

# The DA in Gauteng says the rapid collapse in Rand Water’s system storage is being made worse by the failure of municipalities to complete vital water resilience infrastructure. The water utility’s system storage has fallen from around 55-percent to just below 40-percent in under a week. The DA’s Stephen Moore says if this is the state of the system now, Gauteng faces a catastrophic summer of water insecurity:

# Cycling: Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome has undergone surgery after sustaining multiple injuries in a training crash in southern France. The 40-year-old Briton suffered a fractured vertebrae, collapsed lung and five broken ribs. No other cyclists were involved in the crash. Froome is in the final months of the five-year contract he signed with the Israel Premier-Tech team, which he joined at the start of the 2021 season.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-950-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-406-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, for a working visit and to participate as guest of honour at the official opening of the Zimbabwean Agricultural Show, which marks its 130th anniversary. Over 500 exhibitors are expected from various countries including South Africa, Tanzania, Brazil, China, Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan. Ramaphosa’s visit will strengthen economic ties between South Africa and Zimbabwe as key trading partners.

Stay tuned for more news………….