News 15:00

BULLETIN 14 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Shell loses its offshore exploration bid
# Carrim becomes the first Madlanga commission witness referred to face criminal charges
# And cricket: Hasan becomes the first Bangladeshi ever to score a Test century in Australia

# The Constitutional Court has ruled offshore oil and gas exploration led by Shell cannot proceed, dealing a setback to the oil company after years of legal challenges by affected communities and environmental groups. The ruling overturns a 2024 Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that had supported offshore exploration. The decision is expected to further delay oil and gas exploration along South Africa’s coastline. The ongoing legal battles have already dampened investor appetite and delayed offshore exploration projects.

# The Madlanga commission will lay criminal charges against North West businessman Suliman Carrim for failing to appear before the inquiry. He is the first witness to be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority. His testimony was postponed five times since April, with lawyers citing his medical condition. Evidence leaders questioned his absence after he was reportedly seen in Cape Town. Chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga ordered an independent medical assessment:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Africa should fulfil the promise of liberation. He delivered a public lecture in Durban on translating the Southern African Development Community’s Vision 2050 into action. Ramaphosa says it’s rooted in the dream of a rising Africa. He says Sadec must build a vibrant and productive region where colonial borders don’t hinder the movement of knowledge, capital, goods, services, skills and people, driving solidarity, equality and shared prosperity:

# Union federation Cosatu says there is an urgent need to capacitate schools with resources, including teachers, to combat the contributing factors that lead to acute overcrowded classrooms and teacher burnout. Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, recently revealed over 27-thousand unfilled teaching posts. The Eastern Cape has the highest number of vacancies, with five-thousand-730. Cosatu’s Nonzuzo Dlamini says provinces are reeling from the situation, yet positions are vacant or frozen:

# Cricket: Tanzid Hasan made history in Darwin by becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia. The visitors dominated the start of the first Test by reaching 351 for six after the second day. They’ve bowled out the Aussies for just 198 yesterday when Hasan Mahmud took six wickets, including that of Steve Smith, who top-scored with 71. Hasan was eventually caught for 101, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed 84. The final Test starts in Mackay next Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-16-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-839-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-355-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….