News 17:00

BULLETIN 8 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Barbara Creecy announces interim board appointments for the Road Accident Fund
# South Africa launches a National AI Network Forum to drive an inclusive digital future
# And Cape Town’s Hotel Verde is named Africa’s leading green hotel for the second year

# Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has announced the appointment of an interim board for the Road Accident Fund, following the dissolution of the previous board over governance failures last month. Former National Treasury’s chief procurement official, Kenneth Brown, will serve as chairperson, with ex-investment banker Nonhlanhla Mabusela-Aikhuere as vice-chairperson. Creecy told the media the board will serve for six months or until a permanent board is appointed:

# The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has launched the National Artificial Intelligence Stakeholder Forum in Pretoria. The collaborative platform is aimed at shaping an inclusive, ethical, and people-focused digital future. Deputy minister Mondli Gungubele told Newzroom Afrika South Africa’s top AI minds must help drive the national agenda, from classrooms to communities. He emphasises inclusion and calls for an end to gatekeeping and a commitment to building together across sectors and social divides:

# The Gauteng Health Department says it is reviewing the current service delivery model on utilising intensive care unit nurses in the four hospital clusters. This is in a bid to augment the 791 filled positions for ICU nurses. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says currently 160 professional nurses from clinical facilities are being trained on an annual basis, as part of an upskilling programme on ICU:

# Soccer: South Africa’s Premiership League season kicks off with a packed schedule of matches. Reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Chippa United on Saturday while last season’s runners-up, Orlando Pirates, host Sekhukhune United in Johannesburg. Other key clashes on the opening weekend include AmaZulu against Orbit College, Richards Bay versus Marumo Gallants, and Polokwane City facing Magesi. TX Galaxy is hosting Durban City in Mbombela on Sunday, and the weekend concludes with Stellenbosch FC welcoming Kaizer Chiefs.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-71-cents and the euro at 20-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-761-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-389-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cape Town’s Hotel Verde has won Africa’s leading green hotel title for the second year in a row, cementing its role in sustainable tourism. Praised for its zero-waste policy, renewable energy use, and eco-conscious guest incentives, mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says the hotel leads the continent in green hospitality, stating that luxury and sustainability can co-exist. He confirmed that a new tourism development framework is set to drive more eco-tourism growth in the city.

Stay tuned for more news………….