News 18:00

BULLETIN 26 June 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The police’s Crime Intelligence chief is arrested
# Steenhuisen slams Ramaphosa over the firing of the DA’s Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister
# And cricket: Jofra Archer returns for England’s second Test against India after an absence of four years

# Police Crime Intelligence head, Dumisani Khumalo, has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. He faces corruption charges related to alleged irregular appointments and looting within the division. This follows an investigation into misuse of state funds and off‑books hiring. According to News24, the National Prosecuting Authority is now pursuing the case. Khumalo’s arrest comes as ongoing efforts to tackle graft within the Crime Intelligence unit continues.

# DA leader John Steenhuisen has criticised president Cyril Ramaphosa for firing the DA’s Andrew Whitfield from his role as deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. He argued Whitfield was removed for doing his job well. During the adoption of the Division of the Revenue Bill in Parliament, Steenhuisen said the move is a calculated assault on the DA and exposes double standards, with ministers linked to corruption and state capture still in office:

# AfriForum has welcomed the signing of a landmark recognition and cooperation treaty with the chief of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela cultural community in North West, Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela the Second, in Cape Town today. The agreement promotes cultural autonomy, self-sufficiency, agricultural development, and heritage preservation. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel emphasised the need for community federalism to secure a safe, free, and prosperous future for all cultural communities:

# The US economy contracted more than previously estimated in the first three months this year. According to government data, consumer spending and exports were weaker than expected. According to the Department of Commerce, the gross domestic product decreased at an annual rate of 0.5-percent in the first quarter, down from an earlier estimate of a 0.2-percent decline.

# Cricket: Paceman Jofra Archer was named in England’s squad for the second Test against India after an absence of more than four years. The 30-year-old quick bowler, hampered by injuries during his career, has played just 13 Tests but none since February 2021. His most recent match for England was in March against South Africa in a one-day international at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The second Test starts at Edgbaston on Wednesday after England won the first one at Headingley by five wickets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-59-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-316-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-10-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….