News 07:00

BULLETIN 24 June 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The deputy minister in the Presidency calls for greater regional cooperation in addressing migration
# The Impeachment Committee to meet about its terms of reference and the appointment of evidence leaders
# And, an UN inquiry accuses Israel of genocide against Palestinian children in Gaza

# Deputy minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, says migration has long been a feature of Southern Africa’s social and economic landscape, and greater regional cooperation is needed in addressing migration. He addressed the 31st SADC Media Awards Regional Adjudication Committee Meeting held in Johannesburg yesterday. Morolong stated that sustainable migration solutions should address the root causes of displacement, create economic opportunities across Member States, strengthen border management, and combat human trafficking and related crimes:

# Parliament’s Impeachment Committee is set to meet today to consider its draft terms of reference and the process of appointing evidence leaders. The committee is continuing with its work despite president Cyril Ramaphosa filing an urgent interdict, attempting to halt its work, pending a review of the independent panel’s report on Phala Phala. Committee chairperson Makashule Gana has filed an opposing affidavit. He says that since the report has already been referred to the committee by the Constitutional Court, a legal challenge to the report is rendered moot.

# The Bureau for Economic Research says South Africa’s mining policy is focusing on the wrong priority by pushing beneficiation before fixing basic production challenges. The bureau criticised the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s plan to tax mineral exports to force local processing, which could harm mining and reduce investment. It warns export taxes and quotas could reduce mining activity and jobs. The government is urged to first fix exploration systems and build mining output, and only then consider beneficiation.

# The DA says it has forced the ANC to agree to reforms in Ekurhuleni to improve service delivery and protect residents. The city has officially adopted a 71-billion-rand budget for the 2026/2027 financial year. The DA’s Solly Msimanga says the party opposed previous budgets over concerns about affordability but supported a revised deal after three failed votes raised the risk of provincial intervention and possible EFF control of the metro:

# A United Nations commission of inquiry says Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. A report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory focused on alleged violations of international law, human rights abuses, and the root causes of conflict between Israel and Palestine. In the report, Israeli authorities have also been accused of using starvation as a method of war. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the report, calling it a propaganda piece.

# Cricket: England head coach Brendon McCullum has made four changes to the squad for the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday at Trent Bridge. Captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson make their expected returns to the lineup following a one-match suspension. Spinner Shoaib Bashir and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who have been on paternity leave, also come back into the team. McCullum insists there has been no breakdown in his relationship with Stokes:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-54-cents and the euro at 18-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-961-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-94-dollars-62-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….