Transcript

Hello, and welcome to ‘Just a Moment News’. I’m your host, Erika, and today is July 8th, 2024. Let’s dive into some of the news stories making headlines today.

First up, we have the weather situation in the Western Cape. The region has been hit by heavy rains and strong winds, with multiple cold fronts expected to continue affecting the area until Friday, July 12th. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre has reported that nearly one thousand structures in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, were destroyed by these strong winds, leaving about four thousand people without shelter. Humanitarian aid, including hot meals and blankets, is being provided. In Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, there have been reports of heavy hail storms. The South African Weather Service has issued multiple severe weather warnings, including potential flooding, high winds, and disruptive snowfall. Eskom is currently addressing line faults in several areas, and dam levels are being monitored closely. Social media users have been sharing images of icy roads due to the hail storm.

Moving on to transportation news, The Bombela Operating Company, which operates the Gautrain, has announced that it has contingency plans in place for passengers amid an expected strike by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). Workers affiliated with the union will down tools on Monday, demanding a 13% wage increase among other issues. The company’s spokesperson, Kesagee Nayager, has assured that their stations will be operational and services will not be disrupted.

In broadcasting news, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has fired two senior executives, chief operating officer Ian Plaatjies and head of video entertainment Merlin Naicker, over a secret revenue-sharing agreement in a contract with Discover Digital, the company managing its SABC+ service. An independent investigation found that a clause granting Discover Digital 7.5% of advertising revenue was concealed. This led to their dismissal after a disciplinary process. The SABC has relaunched its SABC+ streaming service twice in eight months due to issues arising from the Discover Digital contract.

In crime news, consumer journalist Wendy Knowler has highlighted an increasing issue with how banks handle refunds for customers kidnapped and forced to make payments. Enhanced anti-fraud measures like biometric verification have led to a rise in kidnappings where victims are compelled to perform transactions. Reana Steyn, former Ombudsman for Banking Services, stated that customers are liable for transactions done using their credentials, with banks only responsible after the account compromise is reported.

In sports, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton secured his 104th career victory at the British Grand Prix, marking his first win in 945 days. This victory was particularly emotional for Hamilton, who shed tears and celebrated with his father. He expressed immense gratitude for the victory, sharing the moment with his supportive parents.

Lastly, in entertainment, the first trailer for Brad Pitt’s upcoming Formula One movie has been released. The film, made in collaboration with ten Formula 1 teams, showcases Pitt as a former driver returning to the sport alongside Damson Idris. The trailer emphasizes the need for a car built for combat and downplays safety concerns.

And in technology, Apple’s Siri is set to receive significant improvements in spring 2025 with the release of Apple Intelligence AI through the iOS 18.4 update. This update promises to enhance Siri’s capabilities, including helping users retrieve specific information from their photo libraries and assisting with online forms.

That wraps up our news for today. Thank you for tuning in to ‘Just a Moment News’. I’m Erika, and I’ll see you next time.

Keywords - moment, daily, news