News 11:00

BULLETIN 13 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# RISE Mzansi calls on president Ramaphosa to act on the crisis in the police
# The Citrus Growers Association confirms that US exports hold steady
# And Russia steps up its bomb attacks on Ukraine

# RISE Mzansi has urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to make decisive decisions regarding allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation this evening regarding matters of national security following allegations of political interference from SAPS executive and Police minister Senzo Mchunu. RISE Mzansi National Assembly whip, Makashule Gana, demands a Commission of Inquiry and firm executive action, warning that national safety is compromised:

# Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson, Ian Cameron, says Friday’s mass shooting in Bishop Lavis, which left four people dead, highlights systemic failures in SAPS. Two gunmen opened fire inside a Reënberg Street home before fleeing in a getaway car. No arrests have been made. It’s the second mass killing on the same street in a week. He urged the Anti-Gang Unit to swiftly investigate as calls grow for urgent police reform and intelligence-driven responses.

# Suspended Road Accident Fund chief investment officer, Sefotle Modiba, claims he uncovered large-scale fraud at the agency, including bribery-fuelled payouts to mostly white-owned law firms while long-standing claims went unpaid. Speaking in Tshwane, Modiba and CEO Collins Letsoalo presented alleged evidence of systemic corruption. They say their suspensions are a smear campaign to silence reform efforts. He adds their turnaround strategy raised RAF’s success rate to 85-percent despite internal sabotage:

# The Citrus Growers Association has reported that South African citrus exports to the United States have remained steady despite the imposition of a ten-percent universal import tariff, with no orders cancelled yet. The tariff follows a reduction in preferential treatment under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, which previously supported 1.7-billion-rand annually in US citrus sales. The association says that while concerns remain that profitability could decline, growers have successfully redirected shipments, with market adaptation and diversification cushioning potential impacts.

# Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles in an overnight air assault on Ukraine. Local authorities say as a result, at least two civilians were killed in the western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in North Korea for a visit, met with the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said he met Kim Jong Un in the port city of Wonsan. Lavrov, who traveled from this week’s South East Asian Nations summit in Malaysia, is scheduled to remain in the country until Sunday.

# Rugby: Rampant Ireland ran in 16 tries as they crushed tier-2 Portugal 106-7 in a friendly in Lisbon yesterday, the biggest victory in their 150-year history and also their first time beyond 100 points. The 99-point winning margin tops their previous best when they thumped the United States 83-3 in 2000, while they had never previously managed 16 tries in a game either. Ireland had 11 different try-scorers, not including a penalty try, with wing Tommy O’Brien and No. 8 Cian Prendergast both scoring twice.

Stay tuned for more news………….