News 06:00

BULLETIN 23 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Parliament wants the National Treasury to review its declining budget 
# Business Unity SA insists that president Ramaphosa implement the plans in his opening speech
# And Olympics: Israeli athletes are given 24-hour security in Paris

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza says they are currently engaging the National Treasury to address the funding model of Parliament. The 2024/2025 budget for Parliament is set at 4.436-billion-rand including 500-million-rand for the refurbishment of the Parliamentary buildings and facilities. Didiza says Parliament’s budget has been decreasing over time, negatively affecting its work. She adds that the burning of Parliament has added more financial strain and has affected its effectiveness.

# Business Unity South Africa has called on president Cyril Ramaphosa to implement plans from his Opening of Parliament Address. CEO Khulekani Mathe emphasised the need for inclusive and transformational growth, amid high unemployment at 32.9-percent. He stressed the importance of job security and urged the government of national unity to address local government challenges:

# A coalition of religious and cultural leaders, representing over 20-million members, is demanding an urgent meeting with the Department of Basic Education to halt the implementation of the Gender-Responsive Pedagogy for Early Childhood Education Toolkit. The coalition argues the toolkit promotes transgender ideology to young children, undermines parental rights, and imposes a single ideological worldview. They seek a moratorium on its use, meaningful public engagement, and transparency in the department’s initiatives.

# The ANC in Gauteng has welcomed the decisive steps by the government of provincial unity in resolving the payment challenges that plagued non-profit organisations. Delays caused by drastic changes to the Department of Social Development funding process have forced some NPOs to close their doors. The provincial government is committed to ensuring the organisations are paid timeously. The ANC’s spokesperson, Lesego Makhubela, says the government is restoring the relationship with the NPO sector:

# US vice-president Kamala Harris is being endorsed by a growing number of Democratic heavyweights as the party’s candidate for the election after president Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race. Californian Congressman Adam Schiff says the party has been revitalised by the possibility of Harris taking on former president Donald Trump in November. Kentucky governor Andy Beshear describes the former Californian attorney-general as smart and strong. The Democratic National Convention, where the candidate will be chosen, starts on the 19th of next month.  

# Olympics: Israel’s participants in the Paris Games will be given 24-hour protection amid the tensions in the Gaza Strip. This follows after far-left lawmaker Thomas Portes said the Middle Eastern country’s athletes were not welcome in France and called for protests against their participation. The Games take place 52 years after eleven Israelis were killed in a terrorist attack during the Munich Games in Germany in 1972. A memorial ceremony for the victims had been moved from Paris’ City Hall to the Israeli embassy.

# 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-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-390-dollars-95-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-395-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….