News 06:00

BULLETIN 20 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa vows to enhance the access to essential services
# Factions in the PAC clash over the party’s participation in the government of national unity
# And South Africa plans to lift the ban on the trade of rhino horn by 2030

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says people’s primary aspirations are for adequate food, water, affordable electricity, and decent housing. In his inauguration speech, he affirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing living standards and ensuring equitable access to vital services. According to Ramaphosa, socio-economic development and the fulfilment of basic rights are pivotal objectives for his second term, signalling a strong resolve to address critical issues affecting South Africans:

# The revolutionary core of the PAC rejects the party’s participation in the government of national unity, calling it counter-revolutionary. They argue the new government promotes right-wing policies that favour the white minority and perpetuate social degradation. This follows secretary general Apa Pooe claiming the PAC’s involvement in the government of national unity. They also accuse the PAC leadership of ideological naivety and political opportunism. The core demands immediate withdrawal and urges all members to denounce and distance themselves from the coalition completely.

# The Gauteng Department of Health urges vigilance against imposters who risk the safety of patients and staff. This follows the arrest of a woman posing as a doctor at Tembisa Tertiary Hospital on Tuesday. The suspect has been handed over to the police. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba says an investigation is underway to determine how the imposter gained access to the hospital:

# South Africa aims to draft a plan by 2030 to lift the nearly 50-year ban on trading in rhino horn. The proposal, which is part of the first rhino biodiversity-management plan, is controversial due to rampant poaching. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is expected to submit the plan to the cabinet, aiming for sustainable rhino population management. This comes as South Africa hosts 79-percent of the world’s rhinos, and critics fear legal trade could increase poaching.

# UK police arrested two people after environmental activists sprayed an orange substance on Stonehenge, the renowned prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest England. The Just Stop Oil protest group said a pair of its activists had decorated Stonehenge in orange powder paint to demand that the UK’s next government legally commit to phasing out fossil fuels by 2030. The group said on social media they had used orange cornflour and claimed it would soon wash away with the rain.

# Cricket: South Africa posted a total of 194 for 4 to beat co-hosts USA in their T20 World Cup Super-Eight match on Wednesday. However, man-of-the-match Quinton de Kock admitted his award for an innings of 74 from 40 balls was more a relief than a celebration. In response, the USA mounted a formidable challenge, with South African-born Andries Gous scoring a half-century that put the Proteas under significant pressure. The Proteas will play England on Friday with the West Indies scheduled for Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-93-cents and the euro at 19-rand-28-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-22-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-333-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….