Transcript

Hello and welcome to “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, and today’s date is September 8th, 2024. Let’s dive into today’s news stories.

Starting off with sports, the Springboks recently clinched an 18-12 victory against the All Blacks at DHL Stadium. This win has strengthened their position in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and brought them closer to reclaiming the Freedom Cup, which they haven’t won in fifteen years. Despite some struggles in the game’s early stages, the team’s defense was solid, keeping the All Blacks from scoring any tries. Coach Rassie Erasmus and team captain Siya Kolisi both highlighted the emotional and strategic importance of this win, with Kolisi playing through injury. The Springboks have two more games against Argentina in the Championship.

In political news, pressure is mounting on South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to address concerns surrounding Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Thembi Simelane. Simelane admitted to soliciting a five hundred seventy-five thousand Rand loan from a company linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. The Hawks have conducted raids related to this scandal, and various political parties and NGOs are calling for Simelane to step aside during the ongoing investigation.

Moving on to crime news, South Africa is facing a significant issue with kidnappings, ranking sixth globally for kidnapping for ransom. Over three thousand kidnapping incidents were reported between April and June 2024, with Gauteng recording the highest number. The involvement of corrupt police officers has been noted, and there’s a call for urgent action to address this escalating problem.

In financial news, Sanlam Corporate has reported receiving over twenty thousand savings component claims since the introduction of the two-pot retirement system in early September. This number far exceeds their usual monthly claims, highlighting a strong public interest in accessing retirement funds for immediate financial needs. Sanlam also noted a surge in app and portal registrations and an increase in call volumes.

In sports again, chess champion Magnus Carlsen defeated Hans Niemann in their first match since the 2022 cheating scandal. The match ended with Carlsen leading seventeen and a half to twelve and a half at the 2024 Speed Chess Championship in Paris. Despite technological issues reported by Niemann, Carlsen secured his victory and is set to face Alireza Firouzja in the final.

In environmental news, a Colombian court has ordered the Ministry of Environment to regulate the population of hippos, originally introduced by drug lord Pablo Escobar, which now number around one hundred sixty-six. The court has mandated both sterilization and controlled hunting to manage the hippo population, which poses ecological and safety concerns in the Antioquia region.

Lastly, in entertainment, Netflix’s new series “The Perfect Couple,” based on Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, has received mixed reviews. While the finale was praised for its pacing and resolution, the series overall was criticized for its uninspired narrative and derivative elements, despite strong performances from Nicole Kidman, Eve Hewson, and Dakota Fanning.

That wraps up our news for today. Thanks for tuning in to “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, wishing you a well-informed day ahead.

Keywords - moment, daily, news