News 07:00

BULLETIN 18 June 7 am/pm

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC welcomes the signatories to the government of national unity
# At least 19 pilgrims are killed on the Hajj amid an extreme heat wave in Saudi Arabia
# And rugby: Loftus is gearing up for the United Rugby Championship Final between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors

# The ANC has announced the formation of a government of national unity following this year’s elections. The ANC’s spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says the ANC, DA, IFP, GOOD party and Patriotic Alliance have officially signed the Statement of Intent to participate in the government of national unity. Bhengu-Motsiri says this collectively represents 273 seats or 68-percent of the seats in the National Assembly. She says the ANC is calling on other political parties who resolved to define themselves outside this effort to reconsider and join the government of national unity.

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta is calling on the government of national unity to maintain education as an apex priority and to try and address crime as a matter of urgency. Makaneta says some of the communities are no longer safe for citizens, and the growing levels of crime often spill into schools that are based in these communities. He says one way of reducing crime in communities is to reskill our youth:

# The Cry of the Xcluded is calling on young people to unite and demand the government of national unity to invest in job-creating alternatives; implement a basic income grant; end budget cuts that hurt the excluded; and tax the rich. The Cry of the Xcluded’s Motsi Khokhoma says for many young South Africans, economic exclusion is a daily reality. The lack of job opportunities, coupled with inadequate support for entrepreneurship and small businesses, leaves them with limited options. Khokhoma says this economic exclusion fuels poverty and social instability. 

# The City of Tshwane says it strives to read 95-percent of all meters across the city to ensure accurate billing. The meters should be read once a month, and the recommended target percentage success is at least 95-percent. Mayoral committee member for Finance Jacqui Uys encourages residents to log queries with the city and pay their outstanding debt:

# Several pilgrims performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia have died and many are believed missing. In the latest count, 19 people were confirmed dead, while 17 others were reported missing. At least six of the victims were said to have suffered sunstroke, ahead of a weather forecast of near 50-degree Celsius heat. The cause of the other deaths was not specified. Saudi meteorological authorities say the heat had reached 47-degrees in Mecca, and 46 in Mina.

# Rugby: The United Rugby Championship final between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors at Loftus on Saturday at 6 pm, will be preceded by a live screening of the Springboks’ match against Wales at Twickenham.  The URC final will be contested by two teams who were considered the underdogs in their respective semi-finals. The Bulls got the better of Leinster, while the Warriors upset defending champions Munster. It will be the Bulls’ second URC final in three seasons a first at home, and the first since 2019 for the men from Scotland.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-25-cents and the euro at 19-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-345-dollars-43-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-322-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-14-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….