News 06:00

BULLETIN 22 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The judgment in president Ramaphosa’s bid is set to be handed down on Friday
# The government aims to save 1.5-billion-rand through grant reviews
# And rugby: Eight Junior Boks return to strengthen the Lions’ Currie Cup squad

# The Western Cape High Court will deliver judgment in president Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to halt the Impeachment Committee on Friday. He is seeking an interdict to halt the committee’s proceedings, pending a review of the Section 89 independent panel report. Ramaphosa’s lawyers argued in court last week that subjecting a sitting head of state to an impeachment inquiry on the back of a flawed report would be a humiliation. Advocate Dali Mpofu, representing the MK Party, argued that Ramaphosa failed to make a case for irreparable harm.

# Minister of Social Development Dina Pule says the government aims to save 1.5-billion-rand through the South African Social Security Agency’s social grant review programme during the 2026/2027 financial year. Pule told the media the reviews are designed to ensure only eligible beneficiaries receive grants, while preventing fraud and incorrect payments. She said the savings can be redirected to other government priorities, while protecting the long-term sustainability of the social assistance system:

# National Treasury says the 24.78-billion-rand World Bank loan, together with financing secured from other multilateral development partners, has enabled the government to meet its 52.6-billion-rand foreign currency borrowing requirement for the 2026/2027 financial year. The latest World Bank Development Policy Loan to South Africa is aimed at supporting infrastructure reforms and boosting inclusive economic growth. Treasury says the financing terms are aligned with its borrowing strategy, which seeks to maintain long-term debt sustainability and affordability by securing funding at the lowest possible cost.

# The Forum for South Africa says the permanent forfeiture of 325-million-rand in assets linked to alleged Tembisa Hospital fraud suspect Hangwani Morgan Maumela is a major step in the fight against corruption. The forum’s Tebogo Mashilompane believes more stolen assets must be recovered, and everyone involved in the scandal, including public officials, must be arrested and prosecuted. Mashilompane added that corruption in the healthcare sector deprives patients of essential services:

# US president Donald Trump says they will take care of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels if they follow through on their threatened blockade of Saudi ports. The crucial shipping lanes of the Red Sea run along Yemen’s coast. A full closure of Bab el-Mandeb could cut global oil supply by seven-percent. The Houthis’ armed forces have imposed a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, in retaliation for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen. Trump says they will make sure Bab el-Mandeb is not closed:

# Rugby: The Lions’ Currie Cup squad had been strengthened by the return of eight Junior Springboks from the Junior World Championship in Georgia. Coach Mziwakhe Nkosi says this, together with the strong performances by several young players in the opening loss against the Cheetahs, will make the Lions a threat for the rest of the tournament and the future. He says the Junior Boks will probably get rested for the next match against the Pumas after successfully defending their title in Tbilisi, but will join the squad soon.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-1-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-254-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-81-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….