News 14:00

BULLETIN 1 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA pledges clean governance and economic reform in its GNU role
# Spain attributes over a thousand deaths to heat in the second-hottest June ever
# And rugby: Rassie isn’t worried over the injury of several Bok locks

# DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says its newly sworn-in representatives in the government of national unity will demonstrate a difference in government focused on delivery and accountability. One of the changes to the party’s representatives sees John Steenhuisen removed as minister of Agriculture. Hill-Lewis says they aim to grow the economy and improve services following last year’s mandate from 3.5-million voters. He commits the team to higher standards, responsiveness, and practical results:

The Activists and Citizens Forum meanwhile criticised president Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Dina Pule as minister of Social Development. The group’s Denis Bloem says Pule’s previous removal from Cabinet and ethics findings raise serious concerns about accountability. He claims the appointment sends the wrong message to South Africans and potential investors and questions Ramaphosa’s commitment to fighting corruption:

# Civil rights and social justice movement, NotInMyName International, is calling on the Southern African Development Community to address what it describes as a regional migration crisis. The organisation’s Themba Masango says South Africa cannot carry the burden of irregular migration alone. He has urged SADEC to develop a coordinated framework to strengthen border management and promote economic stability:

# Spain recorded one-thousand-and-29 deaths ​attributable to heat last month. Official data shows ‌a five-day heatwave with temperatures surpassing 40-degrees Celsius made it the second-hottest June on record after the same month last year. Weather agency AEMET says average temperatures were 3.2 ​degrees higher than normal. Data on the Health ​Ministry’s daily mortality monitoring system shows this June ​had the most deaths attributed to heat since ⁠the same month in 2015.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus doesn’t believe his side is vulnerable due to the injuries to several of his locks. RG Snyman, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager are all unavailable for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against England, while exciting prospect Riley Norton also suffered injury while expected to make his senior debut. Erasmus called up Bulls loose forward Elrigh Louw in his place. He says players such as Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden will be able to fill the void if called upon.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-42-cents and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-680-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-983-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….