News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu is concerned by the lack of interventions for financially distressed municipalities
# Minister Kubayi and Andy Mothibi will address credibility concerns relating to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption
# And cricket: The Windies cricket legend Garry Sobers dies at the age of 89

# Cosatu says it remains extremely concerned by the lack of a comprehensive package of interventions to stabilise and rebuild the alarming number of financially distressed municipalities. The Federation says it has noted tentative progress with 42 delinquent municipalities responding to National Treasury temporary withholding funds and the staggered release of these payments to them.  Cosatu spokesperson, Matthew Parks says the absence of plans to respond to Treasury’s call for actions from the remaining 17 municipalities is staggering:

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi and National Director of Public Prosecutions head, Andy Mothibi have expressed serious concerns on the developments emerging from the Madlanga Commission relating to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption. This follows testimonies by witnesses, making serious allegations on the conduct of IDAC officials and its head. The department’s spokesperson, Palesa Rammitlwa says this has raised serious credibility concerns and has visibly impacted on public trust in the IDAC operations:

# Police say Operation Prosper continues to record significant successes in disrupting illegal mining activities and dismantling criminal syndicates operating in abandoned and active mining areas in Gauteng. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says 20 illegal miners were arrested in the province on Friday, of whom 19 are illegal foreign nationals. She says between April and June this year, 793 suspects, including 595 illegal immigrants were arrested during the joint operations conducted by police and South African National Defence Force in Gauteng:

Meanwhile, the UDM has strongly condemned illegal mining and the criminal syndicates that organise, finance and profit from it. This followed the death of two South African National Defence Force members after falling into an abandoned mineshaft during an operation against illegal mining at a mine in the west of Johannesburg. UDM president, Bantu Holomisa says South Africa cannot allow abandoned mineshafts to remain accessible to criminal enterprises. He says illegal mining networks must be identified, investigated and dismantled through coordinated and sustained law enforcement action.

# Cricket: Garry Sobers, arguably the greatest allrounder of all time, has died at the age of 89. In its tribute West Indies Cricket said a great innings has come to an end and Sir Garfield Sobers will live on in people’s hearts forever.  Sobers played 93 tests between 1954 and 1974, scored eight-thousand-32 runs at an average of just under 58 per innings.  He also took 235 wickets at just over 34 runs each. For many he is perhaps best known for becoming the first player to hit six sixes in one over.

# And finally: Mount Taishan and South African National Parks has signed a cooperation agreement that marks an important milestone in strengthening international cooperation on conservation and sustainable development. Building on the longstanding partnership between the Western Cape government and Shandong Province, the agreement provides a framework for collaboration in biodiversity conservation, protected area management, sustainable tourism, environmental education, climate change adaptation, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise. SANParks CEO, Hapiloe Sello says this partnership reflects shared commitment to protecting natural heritage while creating opportunities for sustainable tourism.

Stay tuned for more news………….