News 13:00

BULLETIN 10 July 13 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga commission grants Witness N in camera testimony
# Minister Aucamp secures an agreement to boost the foot-and-mouth-disease vaccine supply
# And soccer: Hugo Broos announces his retirement as Bafana’s head coach

# The Madlanga commission has granted Witness N in camera testimony with her identity protected. Evidence leader Mahlape Sello says she is part of the political killings task team investigating matters at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape. She says revealing her identity could compromise that investigation, and colleagues. Sello says the testimony will not be trimmed, but her name and images must be withheld, without altering her voice:

Meanwhile, Forum for South Africa has welcomed the extension granted to the commission, but remains concerned that critical issues and individuals may still be left out if the investigation is not expanded without fear or favour. President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deadline for the commission to submit its final report to 16 November. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says the extension must not become a delay that weakens accountability:

# Minister of Agriculture, Willie Aucamp, says his department reached an out-of-court settlement which brings an end to the legal dispute over the procurement and distribution of foot-and-mouth-disease vaccines. Sakeliga, agricultural organisation Saai and Free State Agriculture had argued farmers should be allowed to procure vaccines directly, rather than wait for lengthy government processes. Aucamp says the agreement will open the market to fair competition and allow more vaccines to be accessible:

# Soccer: Hugo Broos has officially confirmed his decision to retire as head coach of Bafana Bafana is final and irreversible. This follows despite emotional pleas from his players to stay following South Africa’s historic run to the World Cup’s Round of 32. The 74-year-old Belgian says he is ready to step away from the demands of active management. Speaking to Belgian media, Broos declared his time on the bench to be over. He has reportedly spoken to SAFA to continue in an advisory role.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-31-cents and the euro at 18-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-87-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-411-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-101-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Telkom has pledged 100-million-rand to establish the Telkom Artificial Intelligence Institute to equip South Africans with vital skills. It was announced at a United Nations event in Geneva, Switzerland. The initiative expands Telkom’s role beyond infrastructure into job-ready development to prevent an economic divide. The programme aims to train over five-thousand young students in accredited, job-ready applications across mining, agriculture, transport and education. Telkom Group CEO Serame Taukobong emphasised connectivity without capability only gets South Africa halfway there, highlighting the initiative’s focus on digital inclusion.

Stay tuned for more news………….