News 18:00

BULLETIN 23 June 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The twelve SANDF soldiers accused of killing a Hawks officer now face two more murder charges
# President Putin says Russia is making efforts to help the people of Iran without giving any details
# And soccer: Orlando Pirates appoints Abdeslam Ouaddou as its new head coach

# Twelve South African National Defence Force members have appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng today in connection with the 2023 murder of Hawks officer, Frans Mathipa. The soldiers now also face charges for two additional murders, along with kidnapping, fraud, and obstructing justice. Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo says the case has been postponed to next Tuesday for a formal bail application, which the state intends to oppose:

# The Public Servants Association urges Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to hold the Public Investment Corporation accountable over the mismanagement of public servants’ pension funds. According to the PSA, more than 150-million-rand was lost through a failed investment in Daybreak Farms, with no benefit to pensioners. The association’s Claude Naiker calls for the immediate removal of the expired PIC board, demanding full transparency on losses.

# Russian president Vladimir Putin has slammed attacks on Iran as unprovoked and unjustified in a meeting with Tehran’s Foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. Moscow is a crucial backer of Iran, but has not swung forcefully behind its partner even as the United States launched strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend. Putin has pitched himself as a mediator between Iran and Israel, an idea rejected by US president Donald Trump. Putin said in the meeting Russia was making efforts to help the Iranian people, without elaborating.

# Soccer: Orlando Pirates have appointed Moroccan Abdeslam Ouaddou as their new head coach ahead of the upcoming season. He replaces José Riveiro, who departed for Al Ahly after a successful three-year spell. Ouaddou, a former Morocco international with 68 caps and a strong European playing background, is set to lead the Buccaneers into a new era. His appointment comes amid fan calls for Rulani Mokwena’s return. Pre-season starts on Friday, with a training tour in Marbella, Spain, featuring friendlies against top European clubs.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-2-cents and the euro at 20-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-998-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-382-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The South African Weather Service is calling for stronger collaboration with the media, disaster management authorities, and communities to improve the reach of its weather warnings. The service’s head of disaster risk reduction, Rudzani Malala, told the media despite early warnings, the recent Eastern Cape floods caused loss of life and displacement. Malala says more must be done to ensure warnings are widely understood and acted upon, especially in vulnerable communities:

Stay tuned for more news………….