News 15:00

BULLETIN 8 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A new SAA Airways board is appointed to drive fleet expansion and strengthen governance
# The High Court rules former Zambian president Lungu’s body must be returned home for a state funeral
# And tennis: Jannik Sinner is refreshed for Cincinnati following a long break after his Wimbledon triumph

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says former South African Airways employee and chartered accountant Sedzani Mudau has been appointed as the new chairperson of the SAA board. The board will focus on expanding the fleet from 20 to over 50 aircraft by 2030, strengthening governance, and maintaining financial independence. During a media briefing, Creecy praised the interim board for guiding SAA from business rescue in 2021 to profitability, now operating 17 routes, including three international destinations:

# LegalAid South Africa has warned defense lawyers in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial that discharge applications have slim prospects of success and has declined to fund them. Despite this, three of the four legal teams plan to proceed while four of the five accused indicated to the High Court in Pretoria they wished to apply for their discharge after the state closed its case last month. Arguments are due on 25 August. The former soccer player was murdered in Gauteng in 2014.

# Eastern Cape Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha says the murder of prosecutor Tracy Brown is a blow to the justice system. Speaking at Brown’s memorial, Nqatha condemned the killings of prosecutors who are seeking justice for victims and called for justice. Brown was gunned down outside her Gqeberha home and will be buried on Saturday. Nqatha urges prosecutors to continue serving with dignity and without fear or favour:

# The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that late former Zambian president Edgar Lungu’s mortal remains must be repatriated for a state funeral. This ends a legal standoff between the Zambian government and his family who wanted to bury him in Johannesburg. Lungu died two months ago while receiving treatment in South Africa. Deputy judge president Aubrey Ledwaba upheld Zambia’s right to honour Lungu, stating public interest outweighs personal wishes:

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner believes it was the right decision to take a long break after winning Wimbledon last month. He skipped the Canadian Open and will defend his title in Cincinnati before moving to New York where he is also the defending champion in the US Open. The 23-year-old Italian says his body and mind needed to recover and it was good to reconnect with family and friends. He should play his first match in Cincinnati tomorrow after a bye in the first round.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-829-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-381-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….