News 12:00

BULLETIN 14 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa halts minister Nobuhle Nkabane from travelling to China amid the SETA controversy
# The MK Party is seeking legal advice over the appointment of professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting Police minister
# And rugby: Irish prop Tom Clarkson is called up to the British and Irish Lions as front-row cover

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has barred Higher Education minister Nobuhle Nkabane from travelling to China amid controversy over her appointment of ANC-linked individuals to Sector Education and Training Authority boards. Nkabane was meant to join deputy president Paul Mashatile at the week-long China International Supply Chain Expo that commenced today. Instead, director-general Nkosinathi Sishi is representing the department. This comes in the midst of growing parliamentary pressure from the DA and allegations Nkabane lied under oath.

Meanwhile, the MK Party is seeking legal advice on Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of Police. This follows the president placing minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave pending the outcome of the commission of inquiry, which will probe allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. MK’s national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, told eNCA the appointment of professor Cachalia, who is neither a member of cabinet nor Parliament, violates the Constitution:

# A 31-year-old woman, arrested in connection with the murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, is expected to make her first court appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng today. Jayden-Lee’s body was discovered on the doorstep of his family home in Fleurhof with multiple bruises on May 14th. His death sparked widespread outrage in the local community. Community activist Althea Cluff says this arrest has brought a mixture of relief and renewed grief to the family and the community as a whole.

# The agricultural organisation TLU SA is concerned about any import of chicken products from Brazil at this stage. Government has partially lifted the ban on poultry imports from the South American country. The Department of Agriculture is now allowing imports from all Brazilian states except Rio Grande do Sul, where bird flu was detected. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says stringent biosecurity measures need to be implemented:

# Rugby: The British and Irish Lions have called up Irish and Leinster tighthead prop, Tom Clarkson, as additional front-row cover ahead of the first Test against Australia on Saturday. The 25-year-old’s call-up increases the Irish contingent in the Lions squad to 18. Clarkson’s Irish teammate, utility back Jamie Osborne, is already with the squad in Brisbane after being summoned from Portugal as cover for Blair Kinghorn, who injured his knee. English and Saracens hooker Jamie George has also received a call-up.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-88-cents and the euro at 20-rand-90-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 122-thousand-356-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-369-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….