News 06:00

BULLETIN 16 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says an impeachment investigation before a court review would be unfair
# Iran threatens to halt all energy exports from the Middle East
# And golf: Eight South Africans tee off at Royal Birkdale today

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the High Court in the Western Cape to temporarily halt Parliament’s impeachment process linked to the Phala Phala matter. His lawyer, Wim Trengove, argued Parliament does not have sufficient evidence to justify an impeachment inquiry and the president would suffer unfair reputational harm if the process continued before the court reviews the panel’s report. Trengove told the court the request is for a short delay of two to three months:

# The ANC secretary-general and former Police minister Fikile Mbalula has told the Khampepe commission that decisions on criminal investigations were the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, not the Police ministry. Appearing before the commission investigating alleged interference in Truth and Reconciliation Commission-related cases, Mbalula also declined to comment on compensation for victims, citing the commission should be clear about its mandate to avoid creating false expectations:

# Two non-executive directors of the embattled Public Investment Corporation have resigned, citing governance concerns. Thabi Nkosi and Nosiphiwo Balfour’s resignation comes days after the board resolved to place CEO Patrick Dlamini on precautionary suspension in the wake of whistleblower allegations of impropriety. Chief financial officer Batandwa Damoyi has been appointed as acting CEO. Meanwhile, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority has launched an investigation into the PIC, saying it has become increasingly concerned by the recent developments relating to governance, leadership stability, and transparency.

# Madlanga Commission evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson has criticised businessman Suliman Carrim for failing to provide audited or unaudited financial statements for three companies, Ziggy, Tasmica, and Tamiz. Chaskalson says the companies received hundreds of millions of rand from North West government institutions and continue providing services to state entities. He argued Carrim’s medical note did not explain why the requested documents were not submitted:

# Iran has also threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East, following the US’s reinstatement of its naval blockade against Iranian ports. The two countries traded strikes for a fifth day yesterday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says the export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one. It added that the Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US ends its acts of aggression. US strikes in southern Iran have killed at least 30 civilians in recent days.

# Golf: Eight South Africans are teeing off in the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale in England today. They are Hennie du Plessis, Casey Jarvis, Jayden Schaper, Michael Hollick, Shaun Norris, MJ Daffue, Jack Buchanan, and Aldrich Potgieter, who took his injured compatriot Louis Oosthuizen’s place in the tournament. It’s the eleventh time the major is taking place at the course in Merseyside. American Scottie Scheffler won last year’s tournament at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-30-cents and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-837-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-59-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….