News 12:00

BULLETIN 31 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Andrea Johnson is still under criminal investigation
# The GOOD Party says the new Western Cape police commissioner’s mission is impossible
# And cricket: Albie Morkel is Joburg Super Kings’ new head coach

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Andy Mothibi, says the former head of the Investigating Directorate against Corruption, Andrea Johnson, remains under criminal investigation despite her resignation last week while testifying before the Madlanga commission. Among the allegations is that she improperly shared the contents of an assault docket involving suspended deputy head of Crime Intelligence, Fazel Khan, with him. Mothibi says a resignation does not shield anyone from criminal accountability:

# The GOOD Party says newly-appointed Western Cape police commissioner, Sizakhele Dyantyi, has inherited the impossible task of curbing gangsterism in communities on which municipal and provincial authorities have effectively turned their backs. GOOD’s secretary-general, Brett Herron, says the culture of gangsterism and violence, especially on the Cape Flats, has not been eradicated because the daily lived experience of the people has not changed, and the generational trauma has not been acknowledged:

# Twelve people, including five children, have been killed and over 60 others injured in a bus crash on the N1 between Trompsburg and Edenburg in the Free State. The driver of the bus and trailer, reportedly travelling to Zimbabwe, lost control and it overturned. The Road Traffic Management Corporation’s Simon Zwane urges motorists, particularly long-distance public transport operators, to exercise caution, comply with road safety regulations, and ensure vehicles are roadworthy:

Moving abroad:

# Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry says 13 countries have backed its proposal to establish a Maritime Defence Alliance to protect international shipping routes and global trade. This follows the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20-percent of global oil and gas exports, due to the US-Iranian conflict. The countries in favour of the alliance include Pakistan, Bahrain, Yemen and Sudan. They say in a joint statement it’s critical to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

# Cricket: Former Proteas all-rounder Albie Morkel has been appointed as new head coach of Joburg Super Kings for the upcoming SA20 season. He takes over from Stephen Fleming, who stepped down earlier this month. The 45-year-old served as Fleming’s assistant for four years. Morkel says he is looking forward to building on the strong foundations they have already created and helping the team achieve its full potential. The fifth edition of SA20 starts on January 17, with JSK opening their campaign against Paarl Royals the next day.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-819-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-62-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….