News 06:00

BULLETIN 3 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC blames the MK Party for inflaming immigration protests
# A man was rescued alive after being trapped for eight days following the Venezuela earthquakes
# And rugby: Steve Borthwick names his England team to face the Springboks

# The ANC says the MK Party’s rhetoric ahead of Tuesday’s protests against undocumented migrants encouraged unrest and division. Addressing the media on current political developments, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said MK fuelled anti-immigrant sentiment, stressing that immigration laws must be enforced through protests or vigilantism. Mbalula added that while the party supports action against illegal immigration, it rejects violence and intimidation targeting foreign nationals:

# The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry says it won’t divulge any special conditions set up for alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s testimony next Tuesday. He is alleged to have operated a criminal syndicate that cultivated relationships with senior police officials and politically connected individuals to influence investigations, secure state contracts, and undermine law enforcement operations. The commission’s spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, says Matlala’s matter is complex:

# The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says it looks forward to working with newly appointed minister David Maynier to advance biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable development and job creation through the green economy. The department remains committed to protecting South Africa’s natural resources while expanding economic opportunities. Maynier’s leadership comes at an important time as South Africa prepares for key international environmental meetings later this year.

# The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements says it will begin evicting people who are illegally occupying government-funded houses after obtaining court orders. The homes will be reclaimed, refurbished where necessary and returned to qualifying beneficiaries who have been waiting for housing, some for many years. The department’s Tahir Sema says illegal occupation and land invasions undermine the housing programme, urging residents to report house-grabbing syndicates to the police:

# A 44-year-old security guard was rescued alive yesterday, after eight days buried under rubble from a collapsed mall after Venezuela’s twin earthquakes. According to reports, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores had been on duty in a small concrete booth in the basement of the parking lot adjacent to the Galerias Playa Grande mall in Catia La Mar when the earthquakes struck last week. It appears that his booth shielded him from crushing debris. Almost two-thousand-300 people are confirmed to have died in the earthquakes, and thousands are still missing.

# Rugby: England head coach Steve Borthwick has included George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and George Martin in the starting line-up for their Nations Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg tomorrow. The trio returns to action following lengthy Test absences. Jamie George will captain the side, with regular captain Maro Itoje rested. In-form 21-year-old Henry Pollock is on the bench. Borthwick says playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity they are excited to embrace.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-456-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-123-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….