News 11:00

BULLETIN 11 June 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF rejects the people appointed to guide the National Dialogue
# The death toll from the floods in the Eastern Cape has risen to nine
# And the European Union is ramping up pressure on Russia with an 18th sanctions package

# The EFF says it rejects with contempt the 32-member eminent persons group president Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed to guide and champion the National Dialogue initiative. The group includes Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, activist Ela Gandhi, and Cosatu secretary general Bheki Ntshalintshali. The EFF says the majority of the group members are ANC-aligned, either by direct membership or through historical or current support of Ramaphosa. The party says this process serves partisan agendas and not national interests.

Meanwhile the GOOD Party says Ramaphosa’s announcement of a national convention in August to launch a National Dialogue is a long-overdue step toward renewing South Africa’s social contract. The convention will set the agenda for a dialogue that will chart a way for the country and drive progress towards Vision 2030. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says a truly people-led dialogue must reach beyond the boardrooms and into townships, where the most urgent issues are felt most acutely:

# The death toll following the torrential rain and severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape has risen to nine. Six of the bodies were found around Decoligny village, while the seventh body was recovered at Tsolo. An additional two bodies were recovered in the Mthatha area. Provincial government spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie, says authorities are still searching for missing children after the school bus they were travelling in was swept away:

# The European Union has revealed its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, further targeting the Kremlin’s ability to make money from its oil and gas production. The sanctions include a ban on the use of the Nord Stream pipelines to funnel gas between Russia and Germany, and lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports. The new package still needs approval from the EU’s 27 member states. European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, says they want peace for Ukraine:

# Soccer: Borussia Dortmund had signed 19-year old English midfielder Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland until 2030, five years after bringing older brother Jude to the club. Dortmund reportedly paid a fee of around 667-million-rand to secure the midfielder’s services, the most the club has paid up front for a player. Bellingham says he is very happy to wear the black and yellow shirt of the club at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 20-rand-19-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-619-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-336-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….