News 17:00

BULLETIN 23 August 17:00 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa assures Tsakane residents that their concerns will be addressed
# Rail experts urge support for local rolling stock despite high costs
# And, tennis: A tough draw for world number one Jannik Sinner at the US Open

# President Cyril Ramaphosa assured the public at the presidential imbizo in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng that their concerns are being carefully noted and will be addressed by the relevant ministers. Ramaphosa says government is committed to addressing the nation’s challenges through a united approach, with all issues raised being addressed collaboratively by the government of national unity:

# Experts have urged railway operators to prioritise locally manufactured rolling stock, despite higher costs. This was echoed during the South African Rail Association Conference. Eswatini Railways CEO, Stephenson Ngubane highlighted the region’s manufacturing capacity but noted the trend of importing cheaper foreign alternatives. Meanwhile Amsted Reelin’s Mervyn Chetty cited that quality justifies the cost, cautioning against short-term savings that could lead to long-term expenses. The panel also discussed the importance of consistent project pipelines and sustainable financing, stressing the risks of neglecting long-term maintenance and quality.

# SABC board chairperson Khathu Ramukumba has dismissed rumours of another Section 189 retrenchment process, stating no such discussions have taken place. In 2021, Section 189 was implemented and over 600 employees were retrenched. Ramukumba reaffirms the board’s commitment to the public broadcaster’s success. He also emphasises the TV licence regime remains, highlighting its importance to the group’s funding:

# Seven people were killed and a dozen injured after a fire broke out at a hotel in the South Korean city of Bucheon. Two people died after jumping out the windows onto an air mattress provided by the fire department, after the mattress flipped. Other victims were found in rooms on the eight floor, where the fire is believed to have started after an electrical fault. According to the city’s fire department the nine-storey hotel was built in 2003, before the requirement for sprinklers was written into law.

# Tennis: World number one and top seed Jannik Sinner received a tough draw for the US Open which starts in New York on Monday. The Italian could face 14th seeded local player Tommy Paul in the fourth round, 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the quarterfinals, third-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal and defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the final. Sinner also faces criticism after the revelation he was cleared of doping after testing positive twice in March.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-95-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-58-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-502-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….