News 06:00

BULLETIN 18 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the government of national unity remains united
# Bantu Holomisa says there are no external threats against South Africa
# And the MK Party will march in Pretoria today

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government of national unity remains committed to working together, despite differences among its members. Speaking during his budget vote reply in Parliament, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the presence of divergent views within the GNU is normal in a multi-party democracy. He added that the GNU is focused on delivering services, improving the lives of all citizens, and restoring trust in government:

Ramaphosa also says billions of rands have been recovered through state capture prosecutions, marking progress in restoring accountability and trust in government institutions. Ramaphosa commended the efforts of the National Prosecuting Authority and the Special Investigating Unit in pursuing corrupt individuals and reclaiming stolen public funds. He says the recovered money will be used to support service delivery and rebuild institutions affected by corruption:

# Deputy minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Bantu Holomisa, says the country is not facing any imminent external threats. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, disclosed this week that the security cluster had identified a potential risk of a coup. She stated that the National Security Strategy and National Intelligence Estimates report flagged other risks, including terrorism and violent extremism. Holomisa says the South African National Defence Force is fully capable of defending the nation against any serious threat:

# The Tshwane Metro Police Department says several streets, including Paul Kruger, Madiba, and Nelson Mandela Drive in Pretoria, will be affected by a march organised by the MK Party today. The party is marching to the Union Buildings in support of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, calling for the arrest of those implicated in political interference in policing. Police will be deployed to monitor the march and ensure public safety.

# Ukraine has appointed a new government led by the first new prime minister in five years, tasked with boosting domestic weapons production and reviving Ukraine’s loan-dependent economy.  The 39-year-old Yulia Svyrydenko climbed the ranks from local politics to deputy minister, then economy minister, and now prime minister. Her cabinet includes two of her former deputies – Oleksiy Sobolev as minister of Economy, Agriculture, and the Environment, and Taras Kachka as a deputy prime minister for European Integration. The previous prime minister Denys Shmyhal is the new defence minister.

# Rugby: Springbok flanker Kwagga Smith believes the Bulls’ new head coach, Johan Ackermann, is the right man for the job. The former Lions coach was named as Jake White’s successor on Wednesday. White left earlier this month following rumours of a palace revolution among players and assistant coaches. Smith, who worked with Ackermann at the Lions, says he’s a brilliant coach with the ability to align a group of players for the same goal. He believes Ackermann will have a very successful career in Pretoria.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-80-cents and the euro at 20-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-585-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-340-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….