News 17:00

BULLETIN 22 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Not In My Name slams the NPA after an application for clarification in the Omotoso case is dismissed
# Rugby: The new Bulls’ coach believes they have the talent to win the URC
# And the sighting of the Knysna elephant captivates the Garden Route and beyond

# Activist group Not In My Name has condemned the National Prosecuting Authority following the High Court in Gqeberha’s dismissal of its application for clarification on the acquittal of televangelist Timothy Omotoso. Omotoso and his co-accused were cleared of serious charges including rape and human trafficking. The group blames the NPA’s failure to build a strong, survivor-centred case, calling the move a desperate attempt to avoid embarrassment. The group now calls on president Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently address institutional failings.

# The African Transformation Movement says the South African National Defence Force is underfunded and unprepared to deal with growing threats. The party believes the recent deployment to the Democratic Republic of Congo exposed the dangers of sending poorly equipped soldiers into conflict zones. It warns of rising threats like crime, terrorism, and illegal immigration. ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona blames the ANC-led government of neglecting national defence, mismanaging resources, and failing to protect citizens and sovereignty:

# The DA has condemned Sports, Arts and Culture minister, Gayton McKenzie’s decision to cut funding to national sports federations. The party says this undermines grassroots development and threatens South Africa’s Olympic future. The DA’s Joe McGluwa says the party will move forward with an urgent oversight meeting in the Sports, Arts and Culture portfolio committee in Parliament, where McKenzie will have to come and explain his choice to strangle grassroots sport federations:

# Rugby: Newly-appointed Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann believes the union has the talent to win the United Rugby Championship. His predecessor, Jake White, took the Pretoria team to three finals in four years, but they could never lift the trophy. Ackermann, who just helped the Junior Springboks clinch World Rugby’s Under 20 championship, says he wants to play an exciting, attacking brand of rugby, be positive and score tries. He realises the expectations are high from the union as well as its fans.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-54-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-201-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-412-dollars-22-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-90-cents a barrel.

# And finally, SANParks says the recent sighting of the Knysna elephant at a farmland in the Knysna Forest, has stirred excitement and pride across the Garden Route and beyond. The Knysna elephant, Loxodonta Africana, is the same species as elephants found elsewhere in South Africa. SANParks’ spokesperson, JP Louw, says they have long observed her with discreet, non-invasive camera traps, capturing her presence every few weeks without disturbing her natural behaviour:

Stay tuned for more news………….