News 08:00

BULLETIN 30 July 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy minister Seiso Mohai is taking charge at the Public Investment Corporation
# The US military has launched more strikes against Iran
# And Chad le Clos becomes the most decorated athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games

# Cabinet has reportedly approved the appointment of deputy minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Seiso Mohai, to take over the reins at the Public Investment Corporation. This follows the resignation of deputy Finance minister David Masondo as the board’s chairperson. According to TimesLive, Mohai’s appointment comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa sought legal opinion on whether it was possible to temporarily move the PIC to the Presidency to shield the asset manager. Mohai’s appointment will reportedly be confirmed by the minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, today.

# The DA has reiterated its call for full transparency on every appointment made under the current National Student Financial Aid Scheme, including the remuneration, mandates and approval processes relating to advisors and consultants. This comes after National Treasury rejected minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela’s 11-million-rand proposed remuneration package for NSFAS administrator Hlengani Mathebula. The DA’s Delmaine Christians says Manamela needs to provide answers to Parliament on how he believed this proposal was acceptable while students continue to endure delayed funding:

# Acting National Police Commissioner, Puleng Dimpane, says the appointment of Sizakhele Dyantyi as the new Western Cape Police Commissioner was more than just filling a vacancy. She says it’s about identifying a leader capable of reading the current temperature of policing in the province. Dyantyi succeeds Thembisile Patekile, who retired at the end of last month after serving five years in the post. Dimpane says she is confident that Dyantyi will provide strong leadership amidst the challenges facing the province:

# The US military launched fresh airstrikes against Iran, in response to the attempted Iranian attacks on American forces based in the Middle East. Earlier this week, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at American military installations in Jordan, meanwhile the US partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has warned adversaries that America is prepared to respond forcefully following a drone attack on an LNG tanker off the coast of Egypt.

# Commonwealth Games: Chad le Clos is now the most decorated athlete in the history of the Games, earning his 21st medal as South Africa secured bronze in the men’s four-by-100-metres medley relay in Glasgow. The women’s four-by-100-metres also won bronze. Pieter Coetzé won gold in the men’s 100-metres backstroke, setting a new Games record of 51.77-seconds, while Ruard van Renen secured the bronze. Kaylene Corbett claimed silver in the women’s 200-metres breaststroke. Paralympian Christian Sadie won gold in the men’s S7 50-metres freestyle. South Africa’s medal tally stands at 22.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-23-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-133-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-58-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….