News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana says some criticism of black economic empowerment is racist
# General Mkhwanazi says a “war” is brewing in the country’s law enforcement structures
# And, OUTA warns that power interruptions in Johannesburg will remain

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says people who are fighting against broad-based black economic empowerment, which is designed to redress the economic inequalities of the apartheid era, show remnants of racism. Trade union Solidarity has challenged the B-BBEE procurement framework at the Constitutional Court. Godongwana rejects the suggestion that transformation and economic growth are mutually exclusive, arguing that structural transformation is also necessary. He adds that empowerment cannot be limited to financial transactions; it must also be considered a way of granting people equal opportunities.

# KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has described growing tensions within the country’s law enforcement structures as a war. This comes after he, Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, and Major-General Nozipho Madondo had been instructed to report to the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria yesterday, sparking speculation that arrests were imminent. However, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption denied that any arrests were planned. Mkhwanazi told Newzroom Afrika that this is evidence of a broader internal conflict within SAPS leadership:

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says Johannesburg residents should not assume the risk of electricity interruptions has passed, despite Eskom extending its public participation process by 30 days. The organisation argues the extension does not resolve the underlying dispute, as the City of Johannesburg and City Power still owe billions in outstanding debt. OUTA’s Julius Kleynhans says the threat of possible supply interruptions remains while consultations are ongoing:

# US vice president JD Vance says a 60-day period to reach a final agreement with Iran, as set out in the newly signed memorandum of understanding, has begun. The US-Iran deal centres around 14 core points, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a requirement that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. Vance says they expect Tehran will not be able to build missiles that can broadly threaten the entire world as part of the final deal:

# Golf: 2023 champion Wyndham Clark leads the US Open at six-under par, with two holes of his first round still to play, after round one was curtailed by darkness with 50 players unable to finish at Shinnecock Hills in New York. The American holds a four-shot lead over the field with eight players tied in second at two under, including England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Spain’s Jon Rahm. Masters champion Rory McIlroy posted a one-under 69, and Scottie Scheffler, who is chasing a career Grand Slam, carded a 72.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-73-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-504-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-168-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….