News 07:00

BULLETIN 13 June 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Constitutional Court dismisses the MK Party’s application to halt the first sitting of Parliament
# Stellenbosch University is going to close the controversial Wilgenhof residence
# And cricket: The captain of the Proteas Women’s team says the India tour is the perfect build-up to the World Cup

# The Constitutional Court has dismissed the MK Party’s urgent application to interdict the first sitting of Parliament scheduled for tomorrow. The party had argued that the sitting could not happen until all the irregularities regarding the recent general elections were solved. The court ruled that it was not in its jurisdiction to hear the case. It added that it was not in the interest of justice to grant direct access as there was no merit in the application. The order was concurred on by ten justices of the ConCourt.

# Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan has warned against corruption, particularly during the recent elections. Speaking at the National Union of Mineworkers national policy conference in Ekurhuleni, Gordhan highlighted state capture and its impact on unemployment. He also warned against the rise of counter-revolutionary forces as discussions continue to gain momentum, over the formation of a government of national unity:

# Parliament has welcomed the High Court in the Western Cape ruling that the EFF does not have the right to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo stated Parliament remains committed to performing its constitutional duties without undue interference. The EFF also unsuccessfully challenged the suspension of party leader Julius Malema and others from Parliament. The National Assembly will convene on Friday for its first sitting in the seventh parliament. MPs will be sworn in and a speaker, deputy speaker, and president will be elected.

# Stellenbosch University says its rectorate has received and considered the final report of the panel appointed to review the Wilgenhof residence matter. Drawings depicting what appeared to be sexual assault, black hoods, and a toxic mixture of linseed oil and aloe crystals, were discovered in two rooms at the men’s residence in January. The university’s deputy vice-chancellor, professor Deresh Ramjugernath, says the rectorate has unanimously accepted the principal recommendation of the panel that the Wilgenhof residence be closed:

# Malawi’s government announced that vice president Saulos Chilima will receive a state funeral. Chilima and eight others died on Monday in a plane crash en route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. President Lazarus Chakwera has since declared 21 days of national mourning, with flags at half-staff. A date for the state funeral is yet to be announced.

# Cricket: Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt says the tour to India is the perfect build-up for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October. South Africa will face India in three One Day Internationals, with the first set to be played on Sunday. A one-off test will follow, and then the visitors end their sub-continent tour with a three-match T20 series. Wolvaardt says the tour will also be the perfect experience for many of the youngsters in the squad.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-885-dollars-76-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-313-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….