News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA reviews its coalition position in Tshwane
# Cosatu demands urgent action to stem the rot in local government
# And, rugby: Etzebeth is back for the Boks for the first All Blacks Test

# ActionSA is reassessing its role in Tshwane’s multi-party coalition to align with its priorities like insourcing and inner-city rejuvenation. Gauteng chairperson Funzi Ngobeni has criticised the DA for what he views as a disingenuous campaign, undermining coalition cooperation. This follows a DA-led media briefing before tomorrow’s no-confidence motion against mayor Cilliers Brink. Ngobeni stresses ActionSA’s commitment to mature, formal engagement rather than supporting what he calls a juvenile approach.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus has reaffirmed its commitment to the coalition in the City of Tshwane despite the ANC’s efforts to remove Brink. The FF Plus’s Grandi Theunissen, who serves as the mayoral committee member for Community Safety, says his party will continue supporting the mayor, with no reports of defections within the coalition:

# Cosatu says it demands urgent action by national and provincial government to stem the rot in local government. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the latest report by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s on the state of local government is alarming and depressing. He says it highlights a worrying picture in the decline of the financial health in an increasing number of municipalities:

# Rugby: Eben Etzebeth is back in the Springboks’ squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. He was initially omitted because of a knee injury. Etzebeth replaces Marco van Staden on the bench, while Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortjé will be the lock pairing in the starting team. Coach Rassie Erasmus released Steven Kitshoff, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi for Currie Cup action this weekend. Etzebeth hopes to clinch the all-time record of 128 Tests during the competition.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-79-cents and the euro at 19-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-50-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-75-dollars-25-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-499-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the National Sea Rescue Institute has issued a safety advisory as rough seas and severe weather hit the Northern and Western Cape coastlines. An orange level six warning is in effect, with heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous swells expected. Hazardous conditions are forecast to continue until the weekend. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon urges extreme caution: 

Stay tuned for more news………….