News 16:00

BULLETIN 11 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Justice Department unveils four major law reform bills
# FMD Response SA outlines steps for South Africa to regain its FMD-free export status
# And an iconic cathedral in Colombia suffers a partial tower collapse during yesterday’s devastating earthquake

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced four draft bills aimed at strengthening laws. They include tougher penalties for illegal mining. The changes introduce laws against conspiracy and incitement to commit serious crimes, and stricter rules for trusts. Small Claims Courts’ limit has also been increased from 20- to 30-thousand-rand. Kubayi told the media the public has until 11 September to comment on most of the proposed laws:

# FMD Response SA says South Africa must achieve widespread, simultaneous immunity among cattle to break the foot-and-mouth-disease transmission cycle and restore access to premium export markets. Spokesperson Andrew Morphew says at least 80-percent of cattle need to be immune within a six-to-eight-week window, rather than through a slow vaccination programme. He says while private sector involvement in vaccine procurement and distribution has since been enabled, intensive vaccination campaigns and ongoing monitoring remain crucial to regaining FMD-free status.

Moving abroad:

# The iconic Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary in Manizales, Colombia, suffered a partial collapse during yesterday’s deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The powerful tremor, centered in the Chocó district, sent a spire from the nearly 100-year-old neo-Gothic cathedral crashing into the streets. It also caused a major side tower to crack and lean heavily against the main central structure. Social media footage caught the exact moment of the collapse, as well as a priest clinging to a column inside the church while the building violently shook during morning Mass.

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada says they are embracing the freedom and responsibility of playing a World Cup on home soil. South Africa will co-host the 14th edition of the 50-over World Cup alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia next year. The tournament returns to Africa after 24 years. Rabada has particpated in South Africa’s two most recent 50-over World Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2023. He says the team is full of belief following their triumph over Australia in the World Test Championship final last year.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-18-cents and the euro at 18-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-362-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-394-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Activists and Citizens Forum is calling on government and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to erect a statue of Winnie Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Spokesperson Dennis Bloem says the country must never forget her contribution and sacrifices. He says when leaders’ voices were silenced either by imprisonment, banishment or exile, one voice the Apartheid regime could not silence was that of Mama Winnie:

Stay tuned for more news………….