News 15:00

BULLETIN 15 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Chief Justice warns the judiciary is under strain amid social media threats
# Musa Khumalo is appointed as acting city manager of Tshwane
# And cricket: The Joburg Super Kings and Chennai need a new coach after Fleming’s resignation

# Chief Justice Mandisa Maya says South Africa’s judiciary is under severe strain, warning that judicial independence remains unfinished business. Speaking at the Judiciary Conference in Durban, she highlighted underfunding, staff shortages and mounting court backlogs. Maya also raised concern over social media disinformation that undermines confidence in the courts. She called for greater institutional independence and adequate resources to protect the rule of law and uphold the Constitution:

Meanwhile, Activists and Citizens Forum says it hopes a preliminary report allegedly linked to Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating claims of criminal infiltration in the criminal justice system is not genuine. Spokesperson Dennis Bloem says if the report is authentic, it would damage Parliament’s credibility and undermine public confidence. He says the report fails to identify wrongdoing by several individuals implicated in allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi:

# The City of Tshwane has appointed Musa Khumalo as acting city manager following the suspension of Johann Mettler earlier this month. Mettler was placed on precautionary suspension due to misconduct allegations. The city says the council approved Khumalo’s appointment on a month-to-month contract for a maximum of three months. Khumalo previously served as the city’s group head for Shared Services. The appointment was announced through the Stock Exchange News Service in line with market disclosure requirements.

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy has extended the term of Transnet’s board of directors by six months, until January 11, or until a new board is appointed. The board’s term had been due to end this past Sunday. Non-executive chairperson Andile Sangqu and the current non-executive directors will remain in office during the extension. Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips and chief financial official Nosipho Maphumulo will also continue serving as executive directors.

# Cricket: SA20’s Joburg Super Kings as well as the Indian Premier League’s Chennai Super Kings are searching for a new head coach following Stephen Fleming’s resignation from both. He was with Chennai for the past 18 years, first as player and then as coach, securing five IPL titles. The 53-year-old former New Zealand captain says 18 years is a lifetime in sport and he leaves with nothing but gratitude. He played 111 Tests, 280 one-day matches and five T20s for the Black Caps between 1994 and 2008.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 18-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-628-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-32-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….