News 15:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 16 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party challenges the SABC over the use of the term government of national unity
# COSATU is disturbed by a forensic investigator’s murder in the Johannesburg Metropolice guns for hire case
# And, rugby: Salmaan Moerat will lead a new-look Bok team featuring seven uncapped players against Portugal

# The MK Party has filed urgent papers in the High Court in Johannesburg against the SABC for using the term government of national unity. MK leader Jacob Zuma argues the term misleads the public, as millions of people rely on the public broadcaster for news. Zuma says the current arrangement in South Africa does not meet the definitional elements of such a government. In response the SABC called MK’s allegations unwarranted and insisted it follows proper complaint procedures.

# COSATU has raised concerns following the murder of forensic investigator Zenzele Benedict Sithole, who was investigating a guns for hire case within the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department. Sithole, from the City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services, was probing the use of JMPD guns in cash-in-transit heists. It is alleged that some JMPD officials rented department guns to criminals. Spokesperson Zanele Sabela has called for justice to be served:

# KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli is leading an oversight visit to the areas affected by the veld fires where over 200 families lost homes in Kenville and six firefighters died in Boston. Ntuli says the fire also affected farmers and livestock, causing 30-million-rand in damages. The premier emphasises the need for government to declare the area a state of disaster. He also calls for collaborations to prevent future fires:

# The Consumer Goods and Services ombud has endorsed the National Consumer Commission’s crackdown on expired product sales. The ombud’s CEO, Queen Munyai, emphasises consumer rights to quality goods under the Consumer Protection Act. She highlights the vulnerability of rural consumers to deceptive practices and underscores the importance of compliance. The commission’s campaign began in Limpopo’s Capricorn District. Munyai also announced a collaboration with South African universities to educate rural consumers on their rights.

# Rugby: Salmaan Moerat will take over the Springbok captaincy for the first time when he leads a squad featuring seven uncapped players in a first Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The uncapped players in the starting lineup are former Junior Springbok captain Phepsi Buthelezi at flank, Johan Grobbelaar at hooker and Jan-Hendrik Wessels next to him at prop. André-Hugo Venter, Ruan Venter, Morné van den Berg and Quan Horn could make their Test debuts from the bench.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-8-cents and the euro at 19-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-547-dollars-28-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-438-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….