News 18:00

BULLETIN 4 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# March and March launches a legal arm to challenge the government
# SANParks welcomes the permanent board chairperson
# And, more than 150 migrants rescued after their boat catches fire in the English Channel

 # Anti-illegal migration group March and March has launched a non-profit organisation called SA First to provide legal support to ordinary South Africans. The group’s leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma says their first case will challenge a South African Police Service circular that bars officers from joining civilian-led actions against foreign nationals. Ngobese-Zuma added the NGO aims to defend the rights of citizens who cannot afford legal action and hopes to become like AfriForum:

# Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment minister David Maynier has appointed Beryl Ferguson as chairperson of the South African National Parks board. Her appointment took effect on the 1st of August and will run until the 30th of September 2028. Ferguson previously served as interim chairperson since October last year and was credited with strong leadership. SANParks says her permanent appointment provides leadership continuity and will support the organisation’s conservation mandate, stakeholder engagement and long-term sustainability.

# Investigating Directorate Against Corruption deputy director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Peter Serunye, conceded at the Madlanga Commission that SAPS Brigadier Dineo Mokwele did not commit fraud in her job application. Serunye agreed with Commissioner Sandile Khumalo that Mokwele disclosed she was still completing her Masters and relied only on the qualifications required for the post. He said those qualifications were verified and acknowledged there was no evidence of misrepresentation:

# More than 150 migrants have been rescued after a small boat caught fire while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the UK. French authorities say the engine burst into flames, causing the vessel to deteriorate rapidly. French and British rescue teams saved all 157 people on board, with no injuries reported. Officials say some migrants had earlier refused assistance, determined to continue their journey. The incident comes amid renewed efforts by the British government to crack down on dangerous small-boat crossings.

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids has quashed suggestions they see Saturday’s one-off Test against the Pumas in Buenos Aires as a warm-up for the series against New Zealand. A 26-man squad has travelled to Argentina while another group remained in Johannesburg to prepare for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. Davids says playing Los Pumas with the mentality of seeing it as a warm-up game would be a big mistake:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-637-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-82-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….