News 07:00

BULLETIN 19 June 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Advocate Shamila Batohi says Omotoso can still be tried
# Floyd Shivambu will today address a media conference amid tension in the MK Party
# And motorsport: FIA approves plans for Kyalami to become a Grade 1 circuit

# National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi, says while the Timothy Omotoso case has been a setback in the fight against gender-based violence cases, all is not yet lost. The Nigerian televangelist pastor was acquitted in April over multiple counts of sexual assault and human trafficking. The National Prosecuting Authority is appealing against the acquittal despite Omotoso’s departure from the country. Batohi told Parliament that Omotoso can still be tried should the NPA’s appeal application succeed:

# Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says Africa can, and must pursue both decarbonisation and industrialisation. Speaking at the Africa Energy Forum 2025 in Cape Town, Ramokgopa rejected the false choice between climate action and development. Highlighting that 600-million Africans still lack electricity, Ramokgopa stressed energy as a human right. He called for regional energy integration, hybrid financing, and African-led investment to unlock green energy:

# Former MK Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu will hold a press conference at Mhulu Luxury Boutique Hotel in Midrand today to address urgent national challenges and the current political climate. Following his axing from his position, Shivambu was expected to be a member of Parliament. The briefing follows his absence from the MK Youth Day rally and comments by Jacob Zuma seen as criticism. Shivambu, the sixth secretary-general to exit the role in 16 months, is expected to clarify his position.

# The City of Johannesburg has approved the tariffs for 2025/2026, which will come into effect from next month. The metro has passed tariffs for municipal services, which will see electricity set at 12.74-percent, water and sewer 13.9-percent, refuse 6.6-percent and property rates set at 4.6-percent. Mayoral committee member for Finance, Margaret Arnolds, says the tariffs are set in a manner that ensures the metro prioritises the provision of essential services, and that the most impoverished communities are protected:

# Iran’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations has hit back at US president Donald Trump’s claims that Iranian negotiators want to visit the White House, saying no official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. Trump said he has offered Iran the ultimate ultimatum as he weighs US military intervention in Iran. The mission says Iran does not negotiate under duress, shall not accept peace under duress, and certainly not with a has-been warmonger clinging to relevance.

# Motorsport: Governing body, the FIA, has approved Kyalami’s upgrade plans to become Africa’s only Grade 1 circuit, paving the way for Formula One to return to South African soil. The upgrades, estimated to cost around 180-million-rand, will not alter the track layout but include modifications to meet modern safety and technical standards. The FIA has given the circuit a three-year window to complete the upgrade. Kyalami hosted 21 Grand Prix races from 1967 to 1993.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-1-cents and the euro at 20-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-641-dollar-10-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-380-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-10-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….