News 06:00

BULLETIN 12 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Two new cases of M-pox are confirmed
# The National Prosecuting Authority will expedite its investigations following the Life Esidimeni inquest
# And rugby: Andy Farrell makes four changes to Ireland’s starting 15

# The Department of Health urges continued vigilance against M-pox following two new confirmed cases this week. This brings the total to 22 since the May outbreak. The latest cases involve a 40-year-old man from Johannesburg diagnosed in Durban and a 26-year-old from Nqutu in KwaZulu-Natal. Both individuals had no international travel history. The department’s Foster Mohale urges anyone experiencing M-pox symptoms to seek medical evaluation, self-isolate, and cooperate with contact tracing efforts to curb further transmission.

# Striking Ford workers affiliated with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa will return to work today at the Silverton manufacturing plant in Pretoria. The union embarked on a strike demanding bonus payments from the motoring company, as well as a share in the profits. The Labour Court last week granted Ford SA an interim order interdicting the strike. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says Ford management has agreed that workers who participated in the strike will not face disciplinary sanctions:

# The National Prosecuting Authority has committed to prioritising investigations following the Life Esidimeni Inquest judgment. The High Court’s ruling in Pretoria held former Gauteng health officials responsible for at least nine deaths among more than 140 patients. While no liability was found for the remaining deaths, the NPA will review the judgment to assess potential criminal prosecutions. NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says collaboration with the South African Police Service is underway to ensure any outstanding investigations are swiftly concluded for further legal decisions.

# The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre says it remains on high alert as heavy rain, flooding, and damaging gale-force winds will continue today and tomorrow. Since the first cold front made landfall on Monday, around 14-thousand structures have sustained damages, affecting about 15-thousand people across the province. Schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg education districts remain closed, while Eskom’s technical teams are working round the clock to restore power to multiple areas including in Mossel Bay and Worcester.

# Kenyan president William Ruto has fired almost his entire cabinet, with only the deputy president and prime cabinet secretary left in their posts. He has also dismissed the attorney general. The president has been under pressure after efforts to push through a controversial tax bill sparked violent protests across the country last month. At least 39 people were killed in clashes with police. Ruto has promised to form a new government that will be lean and efficient:

# Rugby: Head Coach Andy Farrell has made four changes to his Ireland starting 15 for tomorrow’s second Test against South Africa in Durban. Garry Ringrose comes into the midfield, while there is an all-Munster half-back pairing with Conor Murray named at scrumhalf, joining Jack Crowley at flyhalf. Tadhg Beirne switches to blindside flank, James Ryan will start at lock and Rónan Kelleher will be at hooker. Kelleher says they are confident that they can win to level the series:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 19-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-373-dollars-72-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-411-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….