News 06:00

BULLETIN 24 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Presidency gives priority to greater cooperation to strengthen state governance
# Action Society slams the two-billion-rand allocation to the VIP Protection Unit
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus says his players are ready to step up for the Rugby Championship

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Presidency has prioritised greater cooperation between government spheres to strengthen governance and respond to South Africans’ needs. Addressing Parliament, Ramaphosa said the District Development Model, the Presidential Izimbizo programme and the deputy president’s engagements address service delivery problems. He also mentioned that science, technology and innovation are essential for economies to thrive:

# Action Society has condemned Police minister Senzo Mchunu’s announcement that two-billion-rand will be allocated to the VIP protection services. Last week, the minister tabled the South African Police Service’s 113.5-billion-rand budget for the 2024/2025 financial year. Action Society’s, Juanita du Preez, says the money allocated to the VIP Protection services should be spent on keeping South Africans safe, not providing ministers luxury special services at the cost of the taxpayer:

# Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane has expressed concern over 146-thousand-268 incomplete online applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements. Parents must complete the five-step application process by 12 August this year, which includes registering details, applying to schools, and submitting documents. The Education Department’s spokesperson Steve Mabona warned that incomplete applications risk losing placement:

# The ANC in the Western Cape is urging the provincial government to work on long-term solutions to rebuild and strengthen infrastructure and address apartheid spatial planning. This follows severe weather that battered the province recently. In Cape Town alone,158-thousand-and-97 people were affected and 47-thousand-663 structures were flooded or damaged. ANC leader in the legislature Khalid Sayed says the state of disaster declaration is a crucial step in mobilising the necessary resources and support to assist those affected.

# Hollywood star George Clooney, one of the first high-profile Democratic activists to urge Joe Biden not to seek reelection, has announced his backing for Kamala Harris. In a statement, Clooney says president Biden has shown what true leadership is. A major fundraiser for Democratic candidates and longtime Biden booster, Clooney broke ranks two weeks ago by openly calling on the 81-year-old president to give way to a younger candidate so that the party would have a better chance of beating Donald Trump in November.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says they have full faith in the players to make another big step up in the Rugby Championship, which kicks off against the Wallabies in Brisbane on the tenth of next month. The squad comprises 22 World Cup winners and five players who debuted this year. Erasmus says the squad, which includes a mixture of youth and experience, is the best group of players they could select for this tough assignment.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-959-dollars-70-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-408-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-53-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….