Transcript

Hello, everyone! This is Erika from ‘Just a Moment News,’ bringing you the latest headlines on this 17th of August, 2024. Let’s dive into today’s stories.

First up, Johannesburg has a new but familiar face in the mayor’s office. Dada Morero has been re-elected as the mayor of Johannesburg. In his recent address, Mayor Morero, who had been previously ousted following a court ruling, has appointed Kabelo Gwamanda as the MMC for Community Development, among other members. He emphasized the need to stabilize the city and prioritize basic service delivery, especially with the 2024 national and provincial elections on the horizon. Morero’s plan focuses on restoring Johannesburg’s former glory and ensuring efficient governance with his new team.

Moving over to the Eastern Cape, we have a story about significant municipal spending. Lungile Ndabeni, the municipal manager of the Kumkani Mhlontlo Local Municipality, used a hired vehicle that clocked ten thousand, two hundred and thirty-one kilometers in just twenty-four days, leading to a bill of One hundred thousand, eight hundred and forty-three Rand and eighty-eight cents. This expenditure has raised eyebrows, considering the municipality’s financial challenges. Ndabeni’s personal vehicles had been destroyed in a gun attack, which led the council to decide on hiring the vehicle and providing bodyguards, citing a threat analysis that confirmed his life was in danger.

In tech news, Google is facing backlash over its Team Pixel program. The program, which provides early access to Pixel devices for influencers, now includes terms that prohibit showcasing competitors’ products. Influencers who show a preference for non-Pixel devices risk being removed from the program. This has sparked a significant controversy, with some influencers, including YouTubers Adam Matlock and Kevin Nether, deciding to quit the program in protest. The situation brings to light issues of transparency and ethics in tech reviews.

Next, we have an update on infrastructure developments. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) is close to completing the Msikaba Bridge, which will be the longest suspension bridge in South Africa. Located in the Eastern Cape, the bridge is part of a broader initiative that includes the R20-billion N2 Wild Coast Road Project. This project aims to enhance connectivity and reduce travel times and costs across four provinces and into Mozambique.

Turning to sports, Showmax.com made waves during a live Premier League event. They’ve partnered with football legend Eric Cantona to promote their new Premier League streaming service across Africa. Cantona delivered a stirring monologue about making football accessible to all, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to revolutionizing how football is viewed in the region.

And in broadcasting news, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has secured rights to air thirty-three live English Premier League matches for the 2024/2025 season. This includes coverage on SABC 3, the SABC Sport website, and SABC+, as well as on eMedia’s Openview platform. The first game to be broadcast under this new arrangement is Arsenal vs Wolverhampton, complete with live studio coverage.

Finally, in the entertainment sector, the film It Ends With Us has crossed One hundred million dollars globally in its first week. The movie, starring Blake Lively and directed by Justin Baldoni, has performed exceptionally well despite competition and rumored tensions between Lively and Baldoni.

And now, for our ‘Word of the Day’: Ephemeral. Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time. It’s often used to describe things that are transient, like the ephemeral beauty of a sunset or the brief popularity of a viral video.

That’s all for today’s news. This is Erika from ‘Just a Moment News.’ Thank you for tuning in, and we’ll catch you next time!

Keywords - moment, daily, news