News 06:00

BULLETIN 15 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa condemns the assassination attempt on Donald Trump
# Six firefighters are killed in a runaway fire in Boston, KwaZulu-Natal
# And tennis: South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane is a Wimbledon doubles champion

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the assassination attempt of former US president Donald Trump is a stark reminder of the dangers of political extremism and intolerance. A gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, nicked Trump’s ear, killed one member of the crowd, and wounded two others at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Ramaphosa says political violence is the antithesis of democracy and it must be condemned. He adds that he hopes Americans will have the fortitude and sagacity to reject violence and seek peaceful solutions.

# The minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says his department is giving special attention to dysfunctional municipalities. Hlabisa briefed the media during the first cabinet lekgotla of the government of national unity at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. He says some municipalities are failing to provide water to residents and many are grossly underperforming in terms of governance, financial management, and service delivery:

# The Western Cape Education Department says public schools in all education districts will open today. Last week, schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts closed as a result of either flooding, inaccessibility to access routes, or damage to the school buildings. Over 200 schools reported some form of damage from the storms. MEC David Maynier says they will continue to monitor the weather this week:

# Six firefighters have died in a runaway fire in Boston in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The fire broke out in a plantation near Mpophomeni. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, says three firefighters died on the scene while three others died in hospital due to serious burn wounds. Meanwhile, before yesterday’s fire, wildfires had ravaged parts of King Cetshwayo, Ilembe, uThukela, and Zululand Districts, which killed at least ten people.

# Tennis: South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane and her partner Japan’s Yui Kamiji won their maiden Wimbledon women’s wheelchair doubles title. The pair, who lost in the final last year, defeated Dutch duo Diede De Groot and Jiske Griffioen, 6-4, 6-4. This is Montjane and Kamiji’s third doubles Grand Slam title together, after winning the French Open and the US Open. Montjane, who in 2018 became the first black South African to compete at Wimbledon, says winning this title is special:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 19-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-249-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-407-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Airports Company South Africa has announced a strategic partnership with the South African National Deaf Association, which empowers the deaf community with equal opportunities and recognition in society. ACSA’s group transformation manager, Ele Tshikovhi, says the collaboration underscores their commitment to supporting the disability sector by providing skills development and underpins their socio-economic development strategy. Tshikovhi says giving front-line and customer-facing staff sign-language training also reinforces the company’s dedication to inclusivity and equal opportunities for all.

Stay tuned for more news………….