News 06:00

BULLETIN 19 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA will today lead a protest demanding the removal of advocate Shamila Batohi
# Donald Trump declines to say if America is going to attack Iran
# And rugby: 950-rand tickets are available for the Springboks vs the Barbarians in Cape Town

# ActionSA will today lead a protest outside the Justice minister’s office in Pretoria, demanding the removal of National Prosecuting Authority head, Shamila Batohi. They call for urgent government intervention to start the process of removing Batohi under the NPA Act. During Parliament’s standing committee on Public Accounts engagement, ActionSA’s Athol Trollip said the NPA is dysfunctional under Batohi’s leadership, with delays, scandals, and failure to prosecute the politically connected: 

# The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters and the South African Meat Processors Association have welcomed the government’s partial lifting of the poultry import ban from Brazil, effective today. Imports resume from all states except Rio Grande do Sul, affected by avian flu. The move averts potential protein shortages. The association urges faster finalisation of regional health agreements and reopening of other key markets to ensure long-term food system resilience.

# Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has found irregularities in the construction of the 22.7-million-rand Lesseyton Stadium in Komani, Eastern Cape. The sports facility, unveiled in October 2021, drew widespread public criticism due to its poor quality and the high cost associated with its construction. A forensic investigation found that the tender awarded to construction company Thalami Civils was irregular. Gcaleka says procedural issues were also found during the tender process:

# The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says its PotholeFixGP app has helped fix almost 39-thousand potholes since 2022. The app, downloaded over 19-thousand times, allows motorists to report potholes and broken traffic lights. In Krugersdorp, more than two-thousand-100 potholes were reported, and over one-thousand-700 were fixed. Tshwane’s Derdepoort area has the most potholes waiting to be fully fixed, with 763 reported and 375 repaired. In Benoni, 430 potholes were reported and 288 repaired. Overall, 72-percent of reported potholes have been repaired.

# President Donald Trump has declined to say whether the US is planning to strike Iran or its nuclear facilities. This as the deadly conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate. America has been providing defensive support to Israel since the missile attacks between Israel and Iran began last week. Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Iran has reached out and wants to negotiate:

# Rugby: The organisers of the clash between the Springboks and the Barbarians in Cape Town next weekend have released new blocks of tickets to mark South Africa’s 1995 World Cup victory. The victory 30 years ago will resonate with a flyover by a jumbo jet when the Boks kick off their season. The “95 Remembered” category of tickets at 950-rand is now available for seats on the northern and southern pavillions. The Boks beat the All Blacks 15-12 at Ellis Park on 24 June 1995.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-1-cents and the euro at 20-rand-67-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-17-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-728-dollar-30-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-371-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….