News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 June 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa hails equity equivalence as key to economic transformation
# Three senior Gauteng officials removed for failing their lifestyle audits
# And cricket: The Proteas men and women will play simultaneous T20s in New Zealand next year

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the government’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and transformation. Addressing the National Council of Provinces, Ramaphosa highlighted the equity equivalent programme as an innovative solution for foreign-owned companies unable to meet local ownership targets. Ramaphosa said the model allows global firms to contribute meaningfully to transformation and redress. He warned that transformation is non-negotiable and essential for national progress:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa says there is no substantial evidence to support allegations of conflict of interest between Eskom and Mulilo Energy securing a 9.5-billion-rand battery-storage tender. The company is chaired by former Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer. Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ramokgopa said Mulilo Energy complied with the requirement of public disclosure, adding that the power utility did its due diligence on the Mulilo transaction.

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says they are committed to ensuring that provincial departments are led by people with credentials. He has fired three department heads, who failed a series of lifestyle audits and were declared high-risk by the Special Investigating Unit. The State of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Report states that 37-percent of senior provincial government officials had failed their lifestyle audits. Lesufi says they are prioritising fund recovery from employees:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has described his meeting with US president Donald Trump as substantive. The two leaders held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in the Netherlands. Zelensky says they covered important issues, including how to achieve a ceasefire and real peace, and the purchase of American air defence systems. He added that he is grateful for the continued support of the US. Meanwhile, Trump conceded that ending the Russia-Ukraine war was harder than anyone thought.

# Cricket: The Proteas’ men’s and women’s teams will be involved in a simultaneous series in New Zealand in March next year. The men will play the Black Caps in a five-match T20 series while the women will face the White Ferns on the same days and at the same venues. The matches will take place in Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Cricket South Africa’s director of national teams, Enoch Nkwe, describes the double series as an exciting step forward in the country’s relationship with New Zealand Cricket.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-71-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-508-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-331-dollars-4-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development alongside the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will host a national dialogue today at Freedom Park in Pretoria, marking the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. Under the theme From Charter to Constitution – Bridging Generations, the event features youth-led panels and a constitutional pledge. It aims to reflect on the Charter’s legacy and its role in shaping South Africa’s inclusive democratic society.

Stay tuned for more news………….