News 11:00

BULLETIN 16 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ntshavheni promises an overhaul of the State Security Agency
# OUTA says political interference will always hinder the SAA’s ability to succeed
# And rugby, the Springboks are determined to return to their high standard of play

# Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the State Security Agency is ready for a complete overhaul. The EFF has called the agency useless and unproductive, while the MK Party has bemoaned the agency’s lack of capacity to protect the state against cybersecurity threats. Ntshavheni says the overhaul of the agency will depend on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill being signed into law by president Cyril Ramaphosa:

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says government procurement processes and political interference will always hinder South African Airways’ ability to succeed in the medium term. The state-owned airline is reportedly in need of an equity partner to save it, after exiting business rescue and the failed Takatso Consortium deal. Earlier this year, SAA reported a loss of 771-million-rand. Outa’s Wayne Duvenage says without an equity partner that has a controlling interest, SAA will not be profitable and will have to rely on future bailouts or face closure.

# The Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute has criticised the National Nuclear Regulator board’s approval of a 20-year life extension for Koeberg Unit One in Cape Town. The regulator says the approval is in line with governing legislation, and international safety standards, and following a public participation process, which included eight public hearings. The institute’s Francesca de Gasparis says Koeberg still has many safety concerns, which have not been addressed:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia should be represented at a second summit aiming to secure lasting peace, after more than two years of war. Dozens of world leaders voiced support for a just peace in Ukraine after a high-level summit convened by Zelensky last month in Switzerland, to which Russia was not invited. Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv he believes Russian representatives should be at the second summit. The Kremlin says any discussions around ending the conflict that did not include Russia are absurd.

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids says they are determined to return to their high standard of play when they face Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The Boks stuck to a six-two split for the drawn Ireland series that worked out in the first Test they won 27-20 at Loftus Versfeld, but was tested in the 25-24 loss at Kings Park. Davids says the team is highly motivated to bounce back strongly from last week’s defeat:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-64-cents and Bitcoin trades at 23-thousand-294-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-432-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….