News 16:00

BULLETIN 23 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Tshwane’s chief financial official is reinstated after his suspension
# Israelis fear the US and Saudi Arabia’s nuclear deal could ignite an arms race in the Middle East
# And rugby: The All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick says winning against the Springboks is the ultimate prize

# The City of Tshwane has reinstated chief financial official Gareth Mnisi following a three-month precautionary suspension on a final written warning. He was suspended after being accused before the Madlanga of attempting to influence a multi-billion-rand Tshwane Metro Police Department security tender, sharing sensitive bid documents with external individuals and failing to declare business interests while chairing the city’s bid adjudication committee. The city’s council voted to have the allegations against Mnisi classified as less serious.

# The DA in Gauteng accuses premier Panyaza Lesufi of shielding corrupt officials by refusing to make public the lifestyle audits of the provincial government department heads, director generals, and the entities’ CEOs. The party says the same has happened with the 177 forensic reports that he initially refused to disclose. The DA alleges Lesufi released heavily redacted reports, hiding the most crucial information that the public needs to know about how money, meant to improve their lives, was stolen.

# The Public Servants Association is extremely concerned about the reported increase in South Africa’s consumer-price inflation to five-percent. The PSA says the continued erosion of purchasing power has left many employees struggling to meet basic household expenses, service debt, and provide for their families. The association’s spokesperson, Claude Naicker says the latest inflation figures will deepen this crisis:

Moving abroad:

# A deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia allowing the kingdom to build nuclear reactors using American technology and to enrich ​uranium has fuelled fears in Israel of the start of an arms race ‌in the Middle East. The agreement still needs US Congressional approval. Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, who is seeking ​to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu in the October 27 election, says the agreement, over Israel’s head, is a serious strategic ​failure that endangers the Jewish state’s security.

# Rugby: Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick says a series victory over the Springboks in South Africa is the ultimate prize and perfect launching pad for next year’s World Cup. The Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour will see New Zealand play South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship teams, and four Tests against the Boks. Fitzpatrick says the challenge for new coach Dave Rennie will be to create fierce competition for the Boks:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 18-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-396-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-75-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….