News 07:00

BULLETIN 26 July 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Works minister wants progress reports on the reconstruction of the National Assembly
# Parliament’s Justice Committee welcomes the appointment of Mandisa Maya
# And, RISE Mzansi demands the police budget must focus on public safety

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister, Dean Macpherson, says he has instructed the Development Bank Of Southern Africa to supply bi-weekly reports, on the progress to restore Parliament’s gutted National Assembly building. The minister conducted an oversight visit to the parliamentary grounds yesterday, where clearing and reconstruction are continuing, following a fire in 2022. About two-billion-rand has been made available for the project. Macpherson says he wants to ensure that the contractors to this important project are held to time frames and budget:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice and Constitutional Development has welcomed the appointment of Mandisa Maya as the country’s new Chief Justice. The Deputy Chief Justice will succeed current Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, whose term expires at the end of August. Maya becomes the first woman to head the judiciary. Committee chairperson, Xola Nqola, says this appointment is a great milestone for the country, and its efforts to promote gender equality and the emancipation of women.

# RISE Mzansi has called for a shift in the police budget, urging that funds be redirected from VIP protection to enhancing public safety. National Assembly Caucus Whip Makashule Gana criticised the four-billion-rand spent on protecting politicians. Gana argued that it should instead be used to combat illegal guns, and drug dealers, and increase the number of detectives. He said the party vows to support the budget for now but insists on future changes to prioritise public safety over political security.

# The City of Johannesburg says calls for a review of the 200-rand surcharge on prepaid electricity meters have not fallen on deaf ears. As of the first of this month, City Power began charging its customers on prepaid meters a monthly service and network capacity fee. Mayoral committee member for Finance, Dada Morero, says the government of local unity has committed to reviewing this charge. He says there needs to be a balancing act, between those who can pay for electricity and those who are struggling to pay.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sorrow and condolences following the recent landslides in Gofa in South Western Ethiopia, which have claimed at least 250 lives. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Ramaphosa has conveyed solidarity with the Ethiopian people and bereaved families, referring to the strong historic relations between South Africa and Ethiopia dating back to the struggle against apartheid:

# Cricket: The Proteas will quickly have to adapt to Test cricket when they travel to the Caribbean for two matches against the West Indies early next month. Most players last saw Test-match action against India in December, while a weakened squad played two Tests in New Zealand in February because contracted players had to play in the SA20. Test coach Shukri Conrad ascribes the lack of Test opportunities to the reality of the modern game dominated by white-ball cricket:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-31-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-56-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-516-dollars-96-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-471-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….