News 18:00

BULLETIN 18 June 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa pledges continued efforts on land reform and social justice
# Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and Nhlamulo Ndhlela are expelled from the MK Party with immediate effect
# And, Rugby: Ruan Nortjé’s big wish in his last game for the Bulls is to win the URC final

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to land reform, job creation and improved service delivery. Speaking at the launch of the Milestones of Freedom programme at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, Ramaphosa said land restitution, redistribution, and the protection of land rights remain central to addressing historical injustices. He added land reform remains central to building a more equal society and supporting economic inclusion, particularly for previously disadvantaged communities

# The MK Party has announced the expulsion of former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and its national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela with immediate effect. The party says the decision follows findings that their conduct undermined organisational unity, discipline and constitutional processes, including making unauthorised public statements and actions that created internal divisions. MK secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo told the media the decision is aimed at restoring order and discipline within the organisation:

# The Madlanga Commission has ruled that Witness J will testify behind closed doors due to safety concerns and ongoing investigations. The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft of a drug consignment of 541 kilogram from the Hawks’ offices in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal in 2021. Commission chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, says the evidence will be heard in-camera, meaning neither the media nor the public will be allowed to attend the proceedings:

# Bird flu has killed thousands of southern elephant seal pups on remote Antarctic islands belonging to Australia. The Heard and McDonald Islands, about four-thousand kilometres south-west of Australia, are home to over one million breeding seabirds and seals. Scientists estimate about 13-thousand baby seals from a group of 17-thousand on Heard Island were killed by the H5N1 strain of bird flu since last August. Scientists believe bird flu was likely introduced to the islands by migrating birds from the French-owned Crozet Islands, about one-thousand-800 kilometres away.

# Rugby: Lock Ruan Nortjé biggest wish for tomorrow’s final of the United Rugby Championship against Leinster, is that the Bulls can bring the trophy home. He will wear the blue jersey for the last time after a decade with the team before heading off to Japan. Nortjé says it would be really special to win the trophy for the people of Pretoria. He adds it’s about having the belief, going out there and giving everything until the last minute. Kick-off is at 7.30 at Croke Park in Dublin.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-895-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-245-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….