News 08:00
BULLETIN 16 June 8 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Ramaphosa’s urgent interdict against the impeachment inquiry will be heard in July
# The Presidency moves to counter misinformation on migration deaths
# And the South African Jazz icon Abdullah Ibrahim passed away at 91
# The Western Cape High Court will hear president Cyril Ramaphosa’s application to halt the parliamentary impeachment process on the 15 and 16 July, pending a review of the Section 89 independent panel report. In court papers, the president has argued that there is a likelihood that the Impeachment Committee will begin the hearing before the court has ruled on the review application. Ramaphosa says this will give rise to considerable prejudice. The committee’s chairperson, Makashule Gana, the EFF, and the African Transformation Movement are respondents in the case.
# The Presidency has warned against misinformation about South Africa’s migration challenges following recent incidents involving foreign nationals. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will work with the World Health Organisation to ensure accurate information is shared. Magwenya added reports linking the deaths of Ethiopian nationals to law enforcement are incorrect, as the matter is linked to organised crime and is under investigation:
# The 1976 Soweto Uprising student leader, Teboho Tsietsi Mashinini, is being remembered for his strong stance against the forced use of Afrikaans in black schools. South Africa is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Uprising today, including the death of 12-year-old Hector Pieterson. In a historic television interview with the American television network CBS, Mashinini rejected claims that he was a communist, saying students were fighting for a better education system:
# Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a collision course with US president Donald Trump as America seeks to extricate itself from the war, with both men’s goals unmet and Israeli military operations tied down in Lebanon. Reuters reports that one senior Israeli official said the preliminary agreement is terrible for Israel and no one in the Israeli leadership views it otherwise. They thought the negotiating period under the deal was likely to be extended, which ties Israel’s hands from taking military action, while its concerns remain unresolved.
# Soccer: Japan fans left the stands spotless after their World Cup opener against the Netherlands in Texas on Sunday, saying it was “Japanese culture” to tidy up after themselves. Spectators stayed behind after the 2-2 draw to make sure they left the stadium as they found it. The Japanese team is appearing at their eighth straight World Cup, and their fans’ cleanliness has become their international calling card. Cleaning chores are a part of Japanese education from an early age, and children can be seen scrubbing floors and tables at schools every day.
# And finally: Globally celebrated South African jazz pianist, composer, and anti-apartheid activist, Abdullah Ibrahim, has passed away at the age of 91. He died in Germany following a short illness. Nicknamed “Dollar”, Ibrahim’s remarkable career spanned more than seven decades. His composition Mannenberg, along with works such as Soweto, The Wedding, The Mountain and African Marketplace, achieved the status of South African classics. Ibrahim’s partner, doctor Marina Umari, says his love for his country never wavered, no matter where in the world he found himself.
Stay tuned for more news………….