News 09:00

BULLETIN 18 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Justice minister is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Zondo Commission
# The UDM says Ramaphosa must outline the next steps for South Africa’s immediate future
# And the UN chief is calling everyone to honour Madiba’s legacy and build a better world

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Thembi Nkadimeng, says her department will continue to redouble efforts in the fight against corruption. A total of 628-million-rand of the department’s budget is earmarked for implementing recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and the State Capture Commission. Nkadimeng says the establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption with criminal investigative powers will enhance the country’s justice system’s integrity and effectiveness.

# The UDM says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s address this evening should not be business as usual, as he must outline the next steps for South Africa’s immediate future. The president will deliver his opening of Parliament address at the Cape Town City Hall. UDM’s secretary general, Yongama Zigebe, says while political emancipation of citizens has been achieved, they remain shackled by the bonds of poverty, joblessness, and crime:

# The City of Tshwane says it will honour its commitment to pay employees a salary increase. On Monday, the Metro began wage talks with the South African Local Government Association, South African Municipal Workers’ Union, and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. City Manager, Johann Mettler, says provision has been made to pay staff a 5.1-percent salary increase for the 2024/2025 financial year:

# Soccer: Real Madrid captain Luka Modric has signed a new one-year deal to keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu for the upcoming season. The 38-year-old midfielder extended his contract until 30 June next year. Modric has won six Champions League titles, La Liga four times, and lifted the Copa del Rey twice with Real Madrid. He has only started 37 times across the last two league seasons but remains a key player for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-19-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-658-dollars-21-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-466-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, is urging everyone to perform 67 minutes of public service today to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy. Today is Nelson Mandela International Day under the theme, It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity. Guterres says Mandela showed the world the extraordinary difference one person can make:

Stay tuned for more news………….