News 06:00

BULLETIN 21 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says he is not  surprised by Zuma’s opposition to the ANC’s foreign policy
# Over 60 are killed by Israeli forces while waiting for aid in Gaza
# And cricket: The Proteas beat Zimbabwe to make the Tri-Series final

# ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has defended the party’s stance on self-determination for Western Sahara, and accused MK Party president Jacob Zuma of being a sell-out. He was speaking on the sidelines of the party’s national working committee meeting with the Western Cape provincial executive committee in Cape Town on Sunday. Mbalula said he was not surprised by Zuma’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara:

# The DA says staggering new details about the cover-up of brazen ANC cadre deployment emerged during the Parliament portfolio committee meeting on Higher Education, which minister Nobuhle Nkabane did not attend. The party says as with all corruption relating to ANC cadre deployment, there was never an independent panel making the SETA board appointments. The DA’s Karabo Khakhau says this was done behind closed doors by the ANC and its handlers, one being Luvo Makasi:

# The MK Party is calling on the minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, to immediately reinstate Collins Letsoalo as CEO of the Road Accident Fund. The MK Party lost confidence in the Board and called for its immediate dismissal after it suspended Letsoalo. Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela says they demand that the minister allows the independent parliamentary inquiry into the RAF under the auspices of SCOPA to take place. He says no permanent board or executive appointments must proceed until this inquiry uncovers the full extent of political interference and corporate collusion.

# The minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, says the George building collapse that claimed 34 lives and left 28 injured called for a legislative review of all national building regulations. He says his department, the Engineering Council of South Africa, and the Council for the Built Environment collectively committed to driving change in the built environment sector to prevent similar tragedies and to ensure public safety. Macpherson says they will table urgent reforms in Parliament to strengthen oversight and ensure this never happens again:

# At least 67 people were killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza while waiting for United Nations aid trucks entering through the northern Zikim crossing on Sunday. More than 150 people were wounded, some critically. Six others were killed in Khan Younis, also while waiting for aid. The IDF says that it had fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat, and it disputed the number of reported deaths. It also blamed Hamas militants for fomenting chaos and endangering civilians.

# Cricket: South Africa claimed a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe to book their spot in the Tri-Series final in Harare. Brian Bennett scored 61 as the hosts were restricted to 144 for six in their 20 overs, with Corbin Bosch taking two wickets. In reply, Rubin Hermann’s 63 and captain Rassie van der Dussen’s unbeaten 52 helped the Proteas to victory with 16 balls to spare. South Africa will face New Zealand in the final on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 20-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-155-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-345-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….