News 06:00

BULLETIN 23 Julky 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliamentary committees say an ad hoc committee must consider Mkhwanazi’s allegations
# Solidarity urges FlySafair to prioritise pilots’ family time and rest
# And, the US Department of Justice will meet Ghislaine Maxwell on the Epstein fiasco

# Parliament’s portfolio committees on Police and Justice and Constitutional Development have adopted a draft report on the request to investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The report recommends that the National Assembly establish an ad hoc committee to consider the allegations. Mkhwanazi has made allegations of corruption, political interference, and malfeasance, specifically against Police minister Senzo Mchunu. The committees say that, given the gravity of the allegations, a focused, multi-party ad hoc committee will ensure a transparent, thorough, and fair process.

# Trade union Solidarity says pilots at FlySafair are calling for better working conditions and more family time ahead of today’s mediation talks. The dispute, now before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, aims to resolve the ongoing lockout. Proposals include guaranteed weekends off, shift-swapping options, and compensation for working on rest days. Solidarity’s Gideon du Plessis believes a fair deal could end the lockout, stabilise operations, and rebuild trust between pilots and management:

# Transnet states that its immediate priority is to actively implement targeted interventions to enhance its operational and financial performance. S&P Global recently downgraded the state-owned entity’s credit rating due to an annual cash burn of 13.5-billion-rand and the failure to meet volume targets. Transnet states that it has, however, made considerable progress in implementing reforms, which are a key focus of its strategy to enhance operational efficiency. It adds that government guarantees are vital to fund much-needed capital investment.

# The DA calls for the immediate resignation of City of Johannesburg chief whip Sithembiso Zungu, pending an internal investigation into alleged links with the city’s construction mafia. According to the party, Zungu is implicated in stalling a 135-million-rand school refurbishment project by demanding facilitation fees. The DA’s Christ Avant-Smith urges council speaker Margarete Arnolds to act swiftly to tackle corruption in the city:

# The Department of Justice is seeking to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the Trump administration struggles to quell a furore over its handling of the explosive case. The former British socialite is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking of minors on behalf of Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he was in touch with Maxwell’s attorneys and he expects to meet with her in the coming days.

# Rugby: Western Province head coach Labeeb Levy won’t use players identified as United Rugby Championship candidates for the Stormers in this year’s Currie Cup competition. Recently retired Stormers prop Brok Harris, who is Province’s forward coach, says the URC players are going into pre-season training while the Currie Cup team will put the emphasis on youth and perhaps tap into the extensive amateur resource base. Province takes on old foes, the Bulls, in Cape Town in the first round on Saturday. The final is on 20 September.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-55-cents and the euro at 20-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 120-thousand-247-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-430-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….