News 17:00

BULLETIN 21 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Over two-thousand police trainees have been evacuated following a gas explosion near the Tshwane academy
# The Home Affairs portfolio committee urges swift action in the Chidimma Adetshina case
# And, rugby: The All Blacks captain returns for the two Tests against the Springboks

# Over two-thousand-500 police trainees and South African Police Service staff have been evacuated from the Tshwane training academy in Pretoria due to a gas pipeline explosion at a nearby business site. National police commissioner Fannie Masemola ordered the precautionary evacuation to ensure safety. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says experts are managing the fire, and a control centre has been established:

# Parliament’s Home Affairs portfolio committee has called for zero tolerance for identity theft, and for action in the Chidimma Adetshina case. Adetshina withdrew from the Miss SA pageant after her mother was accused of identity theft. The department’s counter-corruption head, Constance Moitse, revealed evidence linking two officials to the fraud. The committee chair, Musa Chabane, stressed to eNCA the urgency of addressing the issue, as the implicated officials remain employed by the department:

# The Department of Employment and Labour has called for public input on possible changes to South Africa’s National Minimum Wage for 2025. The commission chaired by Imraan Valodia says submissions are due by 30 September this year. The commission will publish its annual report later in 2024, making formal recommendations to the Finance minister. The commission says stakeholders’ input will shape these recommendations, with further opportunities for public comment to follow.

# The Save South Africa Civic Movement has urged the removal of the age limit for government entry-level jobs and police recruits. The organisation argues that the current cap of 35 years unfairly excludes many capable workers. Campaigns director Tebogo Mashilompane says lifting the limit could reduce crime by providing more employment opportunities. This call follows Statistics South Africa’s report showing a rise in unemployment to 33.5-percent in the second quarter of 2024. Mashilompane says older people are facing limited job prospects in key sectors.

# Rugby: Regular All Blacks captain Scott Barrett returns from injury for the two Rugby Championship Tests against the Springboks. Prop Ethan de Groot, who impressed against the Boks in Johannesburg in 2022, is also back from injury. The two Tests, at Ellis Park on the 31st and in Cape Town a week later, should decide the championship, with the Boks currently on top of the log and the Kiwis second. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus expects a stiff challenge:

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-87-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-511-dollars-17-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-507-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….