News 13:00

BULLETIN 26 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# France’s high speed train lines are sabotaged before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games
# The DA says Zondo’s contributions to upholding the Constitution will not be forgotten
# And minister George extends condolences following a deadly fire at the Garden Route National Park

# France’s high-speed train lines were targeted by multiple malicious acts, including arson, in what has been described as coordinated sabotage to disrupt travel ahead of tonight’s opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. France’s state railways company called the overnight disruption a massive attack aimed at paralysing the high-speed line network. A large number of trips were diverted or canceled, impacting around 800-thousand travelers. The railway operator says the disruption hit the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines, with damage caused to several of its facilities.

# The DA has extended its deepest thanks to Justice Raymond Zondo, who will stepp down as Chief Justice. The DA’S Glynnis Breytenbach says Zondo’s contributions to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law will not be forgotten. She congratulated Justice Mandisa Maya on her appointment as new Chief Justice. Breytenbach says Maya brings a wealth of experience to the role and has made a significant contribution to the development of South Africa’s legal jurisprudence.

# The National Association of School Governing Bodies has called for constructive dialogue on racism’s impacts in schools. This follows racism allegations against 12 learners from the Pretoria High School for Girls who are facing disciplinary hearings. Secretary-general Matakanye Matakanye told the SABC parents should educate their children and also be held accountable. He calls for the naming of the learners and their parents:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, has extended his condolences to the families of the three people who died in a fire at the Garden Route National Park in Knysna. The fire broke out at the Tree Top Chalet, where two SANParks staff members and another person died. The department’s spokesperson, Peter Mbelengwa, says an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-48-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-32-dollars-25-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-371-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Princess Diana’s letters to her family’s former housekeeper, Violet Collison, nicknamed Collie, will be auctioned off by Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, on Tuesday. Most of the letters are thank-you notes for birthday and Christmas presents given to William and Harry. One letter, dated July 8, 1981, three weeks before her wedding to Prince Charles, was handwritten by Diana on Buckingham Palace stationary, telling Collison about the pre-wedding preparations. Collison died at the age of 89 in 2013.

Stay tuned for more news………….