News 17:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 13 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BOSA is concerned about the critical job crisis
# Transnet completes the installation of new capstans at the Durban and Cape Town ports
# And, cricket: Another England allrounder gets injured before the Sri Lanka Test series

# Build One South Africa has declared the job crisis in South Africa critical, citing the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter. Spokesperson Roger Solomon says 11.57-million South Africans unemployed, indicates that nearly half of young people aged 15 to 34 are without jobs. He outlined the party’s five-year plan, including creating two-million new jobs:

# Transnet National Ports Authority has completed the installation of 37 new capstans at the ports of Durban and Cape Town. The company has invested 200-million-rand to enhance productivity in their dry-dock facilities. The upgraded capstans are equipped with hydraulic systems and human-machine interfaces. This modernisation has already yielded results with Durban’s Prince Edward dry-dock recently docking a record-breaking five marine crafts simultaneously. The upgrades are part of Transnet’s commitment to supporting the Operation Phakisa programme.

# Union federation Cosatu says it fully agrees with municipal union Samwu that the South African Local Government Association and National Treasury must stop undermining the collective bargaining process. Salga has made a four-percent salary offer, while the union is demanding an eight-percent increase. Cosatu’s Zanele Sabela says the Treasury’s meddling in Bargaining Council affairs by issuing an advisory to municipalities is unacceptable:

# Sierra Leone’s president Julius Maada Bio has pleaded with the United Nations Security Council for reform. Chairing a session on addressing the historical injustice, he advocated for Africa’s permanent membership to enhance the council’s effectiveness. Bio highlighted the need for increased African representation for maintaining international peace and security:

# Cricket: England has another injury worry before the Test series against Sri Lanka, with allrounder Chris Woakes withdrawing from The Hundred due to injury. His team, Birmingham Phoenix, says he won’t be available for the rest of this year’s competition. This follows after captain Ben Stokes injured his leg in the same competition on Sunday while playing for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals. He suffered a suspected hamstring injury, but the extent of the injury isn’t clear yet. The Test series starts next Wednesday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-14-cents and the euro at 19-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-938-dollars-6-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-469-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….