News 18:00

BULLETIN 25 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says African leaders remains committed to dialogue on migration challenges
# The final call for nominations goes out for political parties and independent candidates as the IEC candidate deadline looms
# And, rugby: Morné Steyn believes the Boks’ loss in first Test was a good thing

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa remains committed to Pan-Africanism and rejects xenophobia and discrimination against foreign nationals. Responding to questions in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said the government is engaging African leaders about migration challenges and has received understanding and support from several countries. He added migration must be managed through the rule of law, stronger border controls, action against corruption and improved legal migration pathways:

Meanwhile, president Ramaphosa says police are investigating those behind violent actions against foreign nationals in South Africa. In his oral reply to questions in Parliament, Ramaphosa said several people have been arrested, and more arrests and charges could follow as police gather evidence. He stated that the government will also act against employers who hire undocumented migrants, urging employers to ensure foreign nationals are properly documented:

# The Electoral Commission is reminding political parties and independent candidates the deadline to submit and complete nominations for this year’s local government elections is Friday at 5 pm. The IEC says the deadline cannot be extended or changed, and no submissions will be accepted after the cut-off. Parties and candidates are urged to finalise their details early to avoid missing the deadline. The online candidate nomination system will close at the same time for the elections on 4 November.

# The trial of a Libyan man accused of helping build the bomb used in the Lockerbie bombing has been postponed just days before it was due to begin. A US judge says newly-discovered evidence means the defence needs more time to prepare. Abu Agila Mas’ud has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. No new trial date has been set, but a hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

# Rugby: Former Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn says South Africa’s loss to the All Blacks in the first Test wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. This was the Boks’ first loss in 13 matches, their last one being against New Zealand in Auckland last year. Steyn says the series is still busy enfolding and South Africa needed a reality check. He believes teams learn more from losses than from victories, although Bok supporters won’t agree with him, wanting the team to win every match.

# The dollar trades at 15-rand-96-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-639-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-619-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….