News 12:00

BULLETIN 28 June 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa calls a joint sitting of Parliament on Nelson Mandela Day
# The Activists and Citizens Forum says the so-called government of national unity is a betrayal of the voters
# And Cycling: Authorities investigate Jonas Vingegaard team’s ‘control room’ on the Tour de France

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for the Opening of Parliament on 18 July 2024. This session, aligned with Nelson Mandela International Day, allows the President to outline the priorities of the Seventh Administration. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the event seeks to honour Mandela’s legacy:

# The Activists and Citizens Forum says political parties must stop spreading the lie that the people of the country have told them to all work together. The Forum’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem says on 29 May political parties convince the voters to vote for their different political parties. Bloem says at no stage did the voters agree to a government of national unity:

# Eskom in Gauteng has announced the successful electrification of 267 houses in an informal settlement in Kromdraai, in the Mogale City Local Municipality. Eskom spokesperson, Amanda Qithi says the project is a significant milestone in the utility’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life for South Africans in the Gauteng province by providing reliable and safe electricity:

# Climate change activists have joined the global StopEACOP Coalition protest in Tshwane against the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline. Initiated by TotalEnergies and Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation, the project faces allegations of human rights abuses and biodiversity damage near Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park. Protesters urge a review of Chinese involvement, citing a potential 375-million metric tons CO2 footprint and displacement of thousands.

Cycling: The International Cycling Union is investigating the proposed use by the team of defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard, of a ‘control room’. The room will enable team owners Visma-Lease a Bike to capture live data would help their riders in this year’s race. The UCI is currently carrying out verifications to ensure that the set-up put in place is compliant with the union’s regulatory framework. The Dutch outfit said the room will support the coaches in the car and help them make the best possible tactical decisions faster. The Tour starts from Florence on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-273-dollars-44-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-328-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….