News 16:00

BULLETIN 12 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COSATU slams the South African National Defence Force over unpaid peacekeeping allowances
# A former Post Office manager is ordered to repay over 140-thousand-rand to SASSA beneficiaries
# And rugby: High-tech mouthguards will be used in the Women’s World Cup to improve player safety

# Union federation Cosatu has expressed alarm over reports that South African National Defence Force personnel deployed on peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have not received their full allowances. Cosatu accuses senior generals of pilfering funds meant for rank-and-file soldiers risking their lives. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks urges Defence minister, Angie Motshekga, to act decisively against corruption and ensure deployed members are fairly compensated:

# South Africa’s mining production rose by two-percent in June compared to the same month last year, driven mainly by increases in platinum group metals, coal, and chromium ore. However, mineral sales fell by 14-percent year-on-year in June, mainly due to sharp declines in gold, manganese, and coal sales. Statistics South Africa’s Juan-Pierre Terblanche says platinum group metals sales increased by 24-percent, partially offsetting the decline:

# The Solidarity Movement, AfriForum, and Solidarity have withdrawn from Friday’s National Dialogue. AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel says while they support genuine dialogue, the current format has become a government-driven monologue serving the ANC’s agenda. Kriel insists the ANC cannot be trusted to solve crises it created hence the groups will instead hold community-led talks with civil society and cultural organisations:

# A Mpumalanga wheelchair-bound former Shatale Post Office branch manager, Lucia Mashego, has been ordered to repay over 146-thousand-rand from her pension to SASSA beneficiaries after colluding with a teller and an accomplice to steal from them. Mashego made duplicate SASSA cards used to unlawfully withdraw 250-thousand-rand from accounts. She pleaded guilty to 60 fraud charges and received an eight-year suspended sentence. Two co-accused will appear in court tomorrow.

# Rugby: World Rugby has announced high-tech mouthguards will be used in the Women’s World Cup, starting in England next week. The smart gumshields will light up red when the wearer suffers a heavy head impact and send an alert to the medical team. They will then advise the referee to stop play. Reuters reports the LED mouthguards will also be implemented in top-flight competitions after the tournament. The governing body says the move is aimed at improved player safety and the reduction of concussion.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-66-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-81-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-349-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….