News 15:00
BULLETIN 23 July 3 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The head of the Directorate against Corruption concedes to wrongfully adding 12 names in the Khumalo case
# More than ten-thousand people are evacuated in southwestern France as a wildfire spreads
# And hockey: Minister McKenzie approves three-million-rand to cover South African teams’ World Cup costs
# Madlanga commission commissioner Sandile Khumalo has questioned the legal basis for including 12-names in the Investigating Directorate against Corruption’s investigation into Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo. He notes most of the names did not appear in the original Section 27 referral affidavit by Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams. The directorate’s head, Andrea Johnson, conceded those people should not have been included in the investigation authorisation:
# Union federation Cosatu expects the Reserve Bank to hike the repo rate today, as a result of the increase in inflation. Statistics South Africa announced inflation accelerated to five-percent from 4.5-percent in May, reaching levels last seen in June 2024 as higher transport costs pushed prices higher. Annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages measured 1.6-percent. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says this is placing an unbearable burden upon working and middle-class families:
# A report by the International Council on Mining and Metals warns that water scarcity is becoming a major obstacle to mining and the global energy transition. The study found 30-percent of mining and metals facilities operate in areas of high water stress, while South Africa has 96-percent of its facilities exposed to severe drought risk. The report says coordinated action by governments, investors and industry is needed to manage water resources and protect the supply of critical minerals.
# Over ten-thousand people were evacuated in southwestern France overnight as a rapidly spreading wildfire scorched through two-thousand hectares of land west of Bordeaux. Data shows wildfires have burnt more land in Europe already this year than the annual average in the past two decades, as the world’s fastest-warming continent has endured three back-to-back heatwaves. Five hundred firefighters are battling to control the intense blaze, with no injuries reported so far. The wildfire is located near the tourist hotspot of Arcachon Bay.
# Hockey: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has approved three-million-rand in emergency funding for both the men’s and women’s national teams to cover their participation in next month’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. In an open letter, women’s national team player Onthatile Zulu revealed players were expected to contribute towards flights and cover costs, including accommodation, meals, and medical expenses. McKenzie says representing the country is a national honour and responsibility and therefore it should never be a personal financial burden.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 18-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-578-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-80-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-40-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….