News 07:00

BULLETIN 14 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Mchunu respects Ramaphosa’s decision to place him on special leave
# Minister Malatsi confirms a new funding model for the SABC is underway
# And City Power launches meter audits this week

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu says he welcomes president Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place him on special leave with immediate effect. This is pending a commission of inquiry that will investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He accused the minister of interfering with sensitive police investigations and colluding with business people, including murder accused, to disband the political killings task team in KZN. Mchunu’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mokgotse, says the minister has pledged his commitment to the process:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa says that as the government intensifies the fight against crime, it is vital that the integrity and credibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies are safeguarded. Ramaphosa says South Africans are concerned about corruption and the rise of criminality in the country:

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi reiterates the process to develop a new funding model for the SABC is underway. The government has allocated 704-million-rand to the public broadcaster over three years, including 43-million for content, 464-million-rand to support its mandate, and 197-million-rand for Channel Africa. The minister told the SABC News that the funding is vital to sustain services as the SABC battles financial strain:

# City Power will conduct electricity meter audits in various parts of Johannesburg this week. The campaign begins in the Randburg Service Delivery Centre supply areas from today until the 18th of August. The initiative aims to improve billing accuracy and operational efficiency. Customers with tampered or faulty meters risk disconnection and fines of 14-thousand-rand for single-phase and 30-thousand-rand for three-phase connections. Residents are urged to cooperate and verify technicians’ credentials.

# Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has passed away at the age of 82. He died in a clinic in London on Sunday following a prolonged illness. Buhari led Africa’s most populous country between 2015 and 2023. His time in office coincided with a slump in global oil prices and the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Current president Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he has ordered vice president Kashim Shettima to travel to the UK to accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner beat two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to win his first Wimbledon title. The 23-year-old claimed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory against the Spaniard to avenge his French Open defeat last month, and claim his fourth Grand Slam title. He is also the first Italian to win the Wimbledon singles crown. Sinner said winning the trophy is a special moment, adding that he is living his dream:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-987-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-361-dollars-1-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….