News 17:00

BULLETIN 18 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The US turns up the heat on MTN over earlier dealings with Iran and Afghanistan
# The GOOD Party says the national dialogue is flawed but worth supporting
# And rugby: Siya Kolisi and another three key players are out due to injury after the Ellis Park disaster

# A US Department of Justice grand jury is investigating MTN over its past operations in Iran and Afghanistan. According to News24, the probe follows US civil lawsuits accusing the company of paying protection money to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, allegations MTN denies. The mobile operator’s CEO, Ralph Mupita, says the group has not been accused of wrongdoing but is cooperating fully and must defend itself against legacy claims, including a Turkcell lawsuit over Iran’s first private cellphone licence.

# The GOOD Party says the inaugural national dialogue convention had potential but was undermined by poor planning and inefficiency. The party says while the government, civil society, and citizens came together at the University of South Africa in Pretoria to discuss solutions to poverty, crime, and inequality, many voices went unheard. GOOD’s Kaden Arguile urges the government to fix these flaws, calling on all citizens to engage in meaningful, inclusive dialogue:

# Fifteen heavily armed attackers have stolen an undisclosed amount of money, two rifles and a handgun following a cash-in-transit heist on Vincent Dickenson Road in Cottonlands, KwaZulu-Natal, this morning. According to Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Prem Balram, members responded to multiple public calls reporting gunfire and an explosion with suspects fleeing towards Ndwedwe. No injuries have been reported so far.

# Rugby: The Springboks suffered another huge setback after Saturday’s humiliating loss to the Wallabies when it was confirmed captain Siya Kolisi and three other key players won’t be able to play in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Cape Town. Kolisi’s knee injury could keep him out of action for a month and he is in doubt for the two matches against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Pieter-Steph du Toit sustained concussion, and wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe are also injured.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-60-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-701-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-341-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-40-cents a barrel. 

# And finally: Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko says her department and Home Affairs will continue to roll out operations aimed at removing children from begging on the province’s streets. Spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa says this weekend the coordinated operation in Johannesburg North and South has resulted in the removal of 19 children and ten mothers from the streets to designated places of safety:

Stay tuned for more news………….