News 07:00

BULLETIN 29 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa denies claims of special treatment for minister Mchunu
# The GOOD Party urges Mbeki to come clean on TRC prosecution failures
# And Donald Trump contradicts Benjamin Netanyahu on the starvation crisis in Gaza

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied claims that his decision to place Police minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave rather than dismissing him amounted to special treatment of an ally. He has submitted papers to the Constitutional Court in response to an urgent application by the MK Party and its leader, Jacob Zuma. The application states that Ramaphosa’s decision is irrational and inconsistent. Ramaphosa has argued that his power to appoint and dismiss ministers includes the discretion to place them on special leave, especially under circumstances that require an impartial investigation.

The GOOD Party says former president Thabo Mbeki must account for the state’s failure to prosecute apartheid-era crimes recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This follows Mbeki’s attempt to join a court case brought by victims’ families against the government. GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron says if Mbeki is innocent of political interference, he may still be guilty of failing to act:

# Deputy Transport minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, says the transport sector is instrumental in the functioning of society, yet it has excluded those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, women, and youth. According to the reports of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission, in 2022, only 38.8-percent of transport and logistics businesses were black-owned, which was a decrease from the 48.6-percent recorded in 2019. Hlengwa says the government is committed to a reform process that seeks to revitalise the sector, while also contributing to the social imperative of the transformation of society.

# The National Union of Mineworkers says the ongoing water crisis in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State is putting the health and safety of miners and surrounding communities at serious risk. The union states workers are being forced to carry small water bottles into old mines and spend over eight hours underground without sufficient water, which affects productivity. NUM’s Tetee Mohale says residents living in nearby hostels are also struggling to get clean water:

# US president Donald Trump does not agree with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that there is no starvation in Gaza. The World Health Organisation has warned that malnutrition rates have reached alarming levels in Gaza. Trump, who has largely blamed Hamas for the delay in distributing aid to civilians in Gaza, acknowledged Israel has a lot of responsibility for limiting aid to the region. He says the ongoing starvation and malnutrition crisis must be addressed urgently:

# Rugby: British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell says they’re going for a clean sweep against the Wallabies after already securing their first series victory since 2013. He says the plan will stay the same despite the tourists winning the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday to take an unassailable lead. Farrell believes his players have already earned the right to be considered Lions legends. The tourists won all eight previous matches in Australia, with the final Test being played in Sydney this coming Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-88-cents and the euro at 20-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-251-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-315-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….