News 07:00

BULLETIN 16 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says he will outline the Lekgotla outcome on Thursday during the opening of Parliament
# Minister Godongwana says the existing fiscal framework was largely accepted by the new cabinet
# And Hamas says Israel’s latest strike in Gaza is an extension of the genocide

#  President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared the recent Cabinet Lekgotla a success. The gathering, attended by 32 ministers, 43 deputy ministers, and department directors-general, set the government of national unity’s Statement of Intent as the guiding document for the seventh parliament. The president says he will outline the Lekgotla outcomes on Thursday during a joint sitting for the Opening of Parliament Address, coinciding with Nelson Mandela International Day:

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says the country’s new coalition cabinet has largely accepted the government’s existing fiscal framework. The first cabinet lekgotla under the government of national unity was held in Pretoria this past weekend. The National Treasury has set a target of stabilising state debt at 75.3-percent of gross domestic product in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. In an interview with Bloomberg, Godongwana says although the existing fiscal framework is supported, the sticking points may arise when budget allocations are made.

# The DA is demanding a full investigation into allegations of a guns-for-hire syndicate within the Johannesburg Metro Police Department. The call comes after the execution-style killing of senior investigator Zenzele Benedict Sithole, linked to this alleged criminal operation. Reports suggest some JMPD members are providing weapons, including assault rifles, to criminals for cash-in-transit robberies. The DA’s Solomon Maila urged JMPD officers to uphold the law and not to become perpetrators of violent crimes:

# The South African Communist Party in the Western Cape has welcomed the provincial government’s declaration of a state of disaster following extreme weather conditions. Heavy rains that led to flooding have affected 158-thousand people and 47-thousand structures have been damaged. The SACP calls for the responsible and even distribution of all forms of disaster grants, and the fast implementation of recovery measures to restore lives and reactivate the economy.

# Hamas has condemned the Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in central Gaza, calling it an extension of the genocide against displaced Palestinians. At least 22 Palestinians have been killed and 100 wounded in the strike. The Israel Defence Forces says Hamas had used the school as a hideout and operational infrastructure, from which attacks against its troops were directed and carried out. This is the fifth attack by Israel on or near to schools used as shelter in nine days.

# Cricket: Australian Test captain Pat Cummins is rested for the white-ball tour or England and Scotland, and the team will be led by Mitchell Marsh. Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will miss the T20s and only play the one-day matches. Cooper Connolly will make his T20 debut. Australia first plays three T20s against Scotland in Edinburgh, and then three T20s against England, followed by five ODI’s. The Baggy Green hosts India for a series of five Tests from November.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-19-cents and the euro at 19-rand-82-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-60-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-625-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-429-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….