News 18:00

BULLETIN 24 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC urges respect for the High Court judgment on Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment enquiry
# Cosatu expresses relief as the repo rate remains unchanged
# And, Austria opens a police station at Adolf Hitler’s birthplace

# The ANC has welcomed the High Court’s decision in the Western Cape to temporarily halt Parliament’s section 89 impeachment inquiry against president Cyril Ramaphosa while his application to review the process is heard. The party’s Zuko Godlimpi says the ruling does not shield Ramaphosa from accountability. Godlimpi has urged all parties to respect the judgment and allow the remaining legal processes to continue without political interference:

Meanwhile, the African Transformation Movement says Parliament’s Section 89 Impeachment Committee will continue with administrative preparations despite the Western Cape High Court temporarily halting its public hearings. Parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula says members will study the judgment and seek legal advice before deciding which aspects of the process may continue. He insists Parliament must fulfil its constitutional oversight role, arguing the delay postpones accountability:

# Union federation Cosatu has welcomed the South African Reserve Bank’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at seven-percent, as it will bring relief to workers and middle-class households already struggling with rising living costs. The federation’s Zanele Sabela says a rate hike would have pushed many families deeper into debt, as fuel prices have risen sharply over the past year and electricity tariffs have also increased:

# Austria has opened a police station at Adolf Hitler’s birthplace in an effort to discourage neo-Nazi supporters from turning the site into a pilgrimage destination. This ends years of debate over how to deal with one of the country’s most contentious historical landmarks. The renovated building in Braunau am Inn, where Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, will house a police unit specializing in narcotics investigations, with authorities hoping it will deter extremist gatherings. Public displays of Nazi symbols are illegal in Austria.

# Cricket: The Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad will host it’s first Test from tomorrow when the West Indies welcome Pakistan in the first of two matches in the Caribbean. The stadium, named after the former Windies great, has hosted one-day and T20 internationals in the past before becoming the nation’s second Test venue and 13th in the region. The Windies are regarded as favourites to win the series after recently clinching a series victory over Sri Lanka, while Pakistan lost 2-0 to Bangladesh.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-88-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-346-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-52-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….