News 13:00

BULLETIN 29 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says achieving a legitimate end does not justify unlawful means
# SALGA approaches the courts to interdict phase two of the AARTO rollout
# And Venezuela’s acting president establishes a commission to assess earthquake damage

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the right to protest and freedom of expression do not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence. Several groupings plan to protest against undocumented immigration tomorrow. Ramaphosa says in his weekly newsletter government has accepted the country’s immigration system requires substantial reform, and as a result, border management is being strengthened, and enforcement against undocumented immigration is being increased. He adds those who intend to protest should do so peacefully and lawfully.

Meanwhile, the South African National Christian Forum is demanding an immediate end to Afrophobia, and calling on all pastors to address selective profiling from their pulpits. The forum’s president, Marothi Mashashane, says they cannot remain silent while witnessing organised marches and systemic harassment against fellow Africans:

# The South African Local Government Association has approached the High Court in Pretoria to urgently interdict the implementation of phase two of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act. The act aims to deal with traffic offences administratively, reducing the burden on courts while removing repeat offenders from the roads through a demerit points system. SALGA’s Sebang Motlhabi says there are unresolved financial implications of AARTO for municipalities:

Moving abroad:

# Acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodríguez has established a presidential commission to assess the condition of housing and infrastructure damaged by last Wednesday’s two powerful earthquakes. The death toll from the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes currently stand at one-thousand-450 while more than 12-thousand people have been displaced. The commission will be headed by engineer Francisco Garcés. Rodríguez says a task force has also been created to establish temporary camps for those who lost their homes, and for planning housing reconstruction projects in a short timeframe.

# Cricket: England needs 270 runs on the final day at Trent Bridge to win the third and final Test against New Zealand and clinch the series. The hosts won the first Test at Lord’s before the visitors struck back at the Oval. The Black Caps yesterday declared their second innings on 288 for nine after Daryl Mitchell’s undefeated 100. Their first-innings lead of 84 runs set England a winning target of 373. At stumps, England reached 103 for four after Zak Foulkes took three wickets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 18-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-71-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-878-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-46-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….