News 06:00

BULLETIN 31 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa’s lawyers argue that the MK Party’s case belongs in the High Court
# Seven more have died from malnutrition in Gaza
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus says none of the Under 20s will play for the Boks this year

# President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lawyer, Kate Hofmeyr, says the MK Party’s case over the special leave of Police minister Senzo Mchunu should have been brought to the High Court, not the Constitutional Court. Mchunu was placed on leave following political interference allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Hofmeyr told the court the matter doesn’t fall under the apex court’s exclusive jurisdiction, as it involves a routine exercise of presidential power, not a direct constitutional breach:

Meanwhile, former president Jacob Zuma’s lawyer, Dali Mpofu, says president Cyril Ramaphosa promoted ministers who were implicated in the State Capture Commission’s findings. The Constitutional Court has reserved judgment in the MK Party’s case challenging Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. Mpofu argued there is no rational link between placing Mchunu on special leave and awaiting the outcome of the Madlanga Commission inquiry:

# The National Council of Provinces has passed the Appropriation Bill, a key part of the national budget. The legislation outlines how government funds will be allocated among various departments for the 2025/2026 financial year. Fifty-one NCOP members voted in support of the bill, nine against, including the EFF and the MK Party, and there were no abstentions. Meanwhile, the NCOP also passed the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill, which will reduce financial requirements for the power utility. Both bills will be sent to president Cyril Ramaphosa for assent.

# The DA has welcomed the arrest of ANC Tshwane regional secretary George Matjila on assault charges. The DA’s Crezane Bosch says the charge stems from an incident involving another ANC member. Bosch has questioned the lack of action on similar assault allegations against ANC spokesperson Joel Masilela and EFF leader Obakeng Ramabodu. She stressed that repeated violent conduct by ANC and EFF leaders prove they are unfit to govern the capital:

# The Hamas-run Health Ministry says seven more people have died from malnutrition. This takes the total death toll from a lack of food since October 2023 to 154, among them 89 children. Israel has come under mounting pressure from the international community to break its blockade, allow aid into Gaza, and end the war. More than 20-thousand children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, with more than three-thousand severely malnourished.

# Rugby: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says none of the Junior Springboks who recently won the World Rugby Under-20 championship will play for the senior Boks this year. He invited Junior Boks Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead to the national training camp in Johannesburg. However, Erasmus says he only did that because his goal is to build a player base consisting of at least three players for each position, and to get young players involved before the next World Cup in Australia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 20-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-704-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-281-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….