News 16:00

BULLETIN 22 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Johnson clarifies Padayachee’s Section 27 referral in the Khumalo case
# Rubio says America is still willing to negotiate over the Iranian crisis
# And rugby: Forty-three players will join the Boks’ training camp in Johannesburg on Sunday

# The head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, Andrea Johnson, has told the Madlanga commission senior investigator Brian Padayachee only received the Section 27 referral in the investigation involving Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo after he had already joined the case. Johnson conceded to questions from chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga, that Padayachee did see the referral before, but only later received the proper legal document from the investigation team to study in full:

# The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation welcomes the High Court in Johannesburg’s 326-million-rand asset forfeiture order against the Hangwani Maumela syndicate, but says it’s not enough. Spokesperson Anele Gcwabe urges the National Prosecuting Authority to prosecute all those implicated in the alleged two-billion-rand Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal in Gauteng, and the blacklisting of companies linked to the looting. She demands greater transparency on pending criminal cases and arrests:

Moving abroad:

# US Secretary of State Marco Rubio say they are still willing to negotiate an end to the Iranian crisis, but Tehran is not serious about talks. The widening conflict disrupted two of ‌the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Rubio made his comments during a meeting of Southeast Asian Foreign ministers, a day after three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia turned around in the Red Sea, apparently in response to threats from Yemen’s Iranian-aligned Houthis. The Houthis announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on Monday.

# Rugby: Forty-three players will join a Springbok training camp in Johannesburg on Sunday. Coach Rassie Erasmus included ten experienced players who return from injury, including captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, while five players had been released to their franchises for weekday matches against the touring All Blacks. The Boks will be split in two groups later – one will travel to Argentina to play the Pumas on 8 August, while the rest will remain behind to start preparing for the All Blacks Test series.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-78-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-836-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-128-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-33-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Gauteng government has been elected vice-president for a global network of sub-national governments driving climate action, biodiversity, and sustainable development, Africa of Regions4. The appointment was confirmed during the body’s general assembly. Gauteng MEC for Environment, Ewan Botha, says the role will strengthen Africa’s voice in global climate discussions, improve access to climate finance, and promote collaboration between African regions to address climate change and build resilience:

Stay tuned for more news………….