News 18:00

BULLETIN 7 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA refers the Gauteng premier’s Nasi iSpani Programme to the Public Protector
# The road rehabilitation project to reduce congestion at the Durban port is advancing
# And, Olympic Games: South African athletes shine in Paris

# The DA in Gauteng’s shadow MEC for Education, Sérgio Isa dos Santos, says he will refer premier Panyaza Lesufi’s Nasi iSpani job creation programme to the Public Protector for investigation. Dos Santos accuses Lesufi of making irresponsible promises of a 12-month contract extension in February, but the contracts were terminated immediately. He demands accountability for the misuse of taxpayers’ money, and calls for responsibility:

# Transnet National Ports Authority is advancing a 24-month road rehabilitation project to reduce congestion at the port of Durban. The project commenced last year and has thus far completed 58-percent of the works in Maydon Wharf and Bayhead precincts. The work includes stormwater paving, pipe jetting, and installation of signage. Acting port manager Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi anticipates timely completion to avoid further congestion and to improve operational efficiency.

# Olympic Games: South Africa’s Edmund du Plessis finished second in the men’s 800-metres heats, crossing the finish line in 1-minute-45.73-seconds, to qualify for the semi-finals. Brian Raats also qualified for the men’s high jump final after a qualification leap of 2.24 metres. Javelin star Jo-Ané (pronunciation Yo-a-nay) van Dyk qualified for Saturday’s women’s final with a personal best throw of 64.22 metres in the qualification phase.

Meanwhile, it’s been a day of mixed emotions for South Africa’s rowers. Hamish Lovemore finished second in the men’s kayak single thousand metres quarter-finals to qualify for the semi-final. Andy Birkett finished third in his quarterfinal and misses out on the semi-final. Esti Oliver and Tiffany Kock both finished sixth in their women’s kayak single 500-metres quarter-finals and missed out on the semi-final.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 20-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-33-cents and Bitcoin trades at 56-thousand-516-dollars-53-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-399-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the annual Govan Mbeki Lecture at the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha emphasised the importance of African infrastructure upgrades for industrialisation. Speaking at the lecture, Volkswagen Group South Africa’s managing director Martina Biene said the African Free Trade Agreement is seen as a strategic move to boost intra-African trade and position Africa as an industrial hub:

Stay tuned for more news………….