News 16:00

BULLETIN 9 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa gives the Madlanga commission more time to finish its corruption probe
# The GOOD Party says the Cape Flats killings highlight the inequality crisis
# And rugby: Concern over Etzebeth’s future after another concussion

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deadline for the Madlanga commission’s inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. The commission will now submit its final report on 16 November instead of 31 August, with evidence hearings continuing until 2 October. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the extension will allow the commission to complete its investigations and hear all the evidence covered by its terms of reference:

# ActionSA criticised the City of Ekurhuleni for failing to conclude disciplinary cases involving suspended senior officials. The party’s Xolani Khumalo says the delays undermine accountability, erode public trust, and affect service delivery. It cites the arrests of the Metro Police’s deputy chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, head of Corporate Legal Services Kemi Behari and Human Resources head Linda Gxasheka. Khumalo calls on the ANC-led coalition to finalise the outstanding disciplinary processes:

# The GOOD Party says the mass shootings in Tafelsig and Philippi East highlight the need for long-term solutions to violence on the Cape Flats. The party’s Brett Herron says policing alone will not address the root causes of crime, and calls on the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government to accelerate social and spatial transformation. He says focus should be on improving living conditions and creating safer communities:

# Social security agency SASSA has warned grant beneficiaries selected for reviews to visit their nearest office after receiving payment on the fourth payment day or risk having their grants suspended. SASSA says the additional payment day is for beneficiaries who must complete grant reviews or eLife certification. Spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi is urging recipients to respond to agency notifications and keep their contact details updated to avoid missing important communication.

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth’s future is causing concern after he again sustained concussion, forcing him out of the three Nations Championship matches in South Africa. He was injured during a practice before last weekend’s Test against England at Ellis Park. He will miss this weekend’s encounter with Scotland at Loftus and next weekend’s with Wales in Durban. Etzebeth was forced to rest for three months after three concussions within a year playing for Toulon in France, and also sustained the condition in a Test against England in 2016.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-39-cents and the euro at 18-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-722-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-107-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….