News 15:00

BULLETIN 28 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Key figures in state capture are to be sworn in as new MPs today  
# AfriForum vows to combat South Africa’s water mafia
# And, Paralympic Games: More than two million tickets are sold already

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza will today swear in eight new MK Party Members of Parliament at the Goodhope Chamber Building in Cape Town. Among those being sworn in are former heads of parastatals Brian Molefe, Siyabonga Gama, and Lucky Montana, all under scrutiny over state capture allegations. Former EFF MP Mzwanele Manyi will also be sworn in again, this time for MK. The EFF will see the return of former MPs Nazier Paulsen and Sinawo Thambo.  

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister Thembi Simelane has been asked to provide a detailed report on allegations of improper benefits from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. Reports suggest Simelane facilitated a 349-million-rand municipal investment into VBS during her time as Polokwane mayor, which allegedly led to her receiving loans to buy a coffee shop. Political parties and civil society groups are calling for transparency and accountability. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said president Cyril Ramaphosa had noted the claims: 

# AfriForum says it will not let the water mafia sabotage South Africa’s water security. The organisation has criticised government’s failure to protect water infrastructure and has vowed to continue its efforts in safeguarding essential resources. Environmental affairs manager Lambert de Klerk has highlighted the need for stricter regulations and community cooperation to end the water mafia’s influence:

# Paralympic Games: The organisers of the Paris Games announced that over two-million tickets have been sold before tonight’s opening ceremony. There remain 500-thousand unsold tickets. The best-selling events are blind football, taekwondo, track cycling, shooting, triathlon and equestrianism.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-76-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-49-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-985-dollars-22-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-504-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

# And, the ANC has paid tribute to the founder and CEO of the Liliesleaf Trust, Nicholas Wolpe. The son of anti-apartheid activists Harold and AnnMarie Wolpe has been praised for his dedication to preserving Liliesleaf Farm, a crucial site in the struggle against apartheid for over 20 years. The ANC says Wolpe’s legacy reaffirms its commitment to a united, non-racial, nonsexist, and democratic society.

Stay tuned for more news………….