News 11:00

BULLETIN 25 Junie 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa will respond to questions in the National Council of Provinces today
# Parliament’s impeachment committee sets the deadline for evidence leader recommendations and terms of reference
# And soccer: Bafana Bafana’s captain is proud after reaching the World Cup knockout stage

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to respond to questions in the National Council of Provinces today, including on government interventions to address illegal immigration and strengthen border management. He will also address measures to identify and remove criminal infiltration and corruption within law enforcement agencies, intelligence structures and other organs of state. The Presidency says Ramaphosa will also provide an update on government’s efforts to combat illicit trade through the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme.

Parliament’ impeachment committee has meanwhile resolved to start the process of identifying and recommending an evidence leader. Political parties have until 10 July to submit their candidates and submissions on the terms of reference. Ramaphosa is facing impeachment over his conduct following the burglary at his Phala Phala farm in 2020. Committee chairperson, Makashule Gana, says they have also agreed in principle that additional specialist support may be required, including a forensic investigator and foreign exchange expert:

# Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana is dissatisfied with the progress reports from the City of Johannesburg, as he plans to instruct the National Treasury to stop the transfer of funds to the metro. In a letter to mayor Dada Morero, he says this step is necessitated by the metro adopting an unfunded budget and persistent failure to address wasteful expenditure. Johannesburg owes Eskom 3.7-billion-rand and Rand Water 1.2-billion-rand. Godongwana has given the metro until tomorrow to explain why the transfer of funds should continue.

Moving abroad:

# At least 32 people have been killed and over 700 were injured after two earthquakes struck the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, with the death toll expected to rise. The quakes, which had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, were just 40 seconds apart, collapsing buildings and prompting the closure of the country’s main airport. Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has declared a state of emergency. She says hundreds of emergency workers, including from other countries, are working to find and rescue victims trapped under rubble.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana captain, Ronwen Williams, says he is extremely proud of the character and mentality they showed in their must-win final World Cup Group A match against South Korea. Hugo Broos’ side secured a 1-0 victory in Monterrey, sealing guaranteed progression to the knockout stage for the first time. Williams says they used the criticism they have received over the last few days as motivation:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-57-cents and the euro at 18-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-608-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-982-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….