News 07:00

BULLETIN 7 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Mchunu says lieutenant general Mkhwanazi’s allegations against him are baseless
# President Ramaphosa has declared a mourning period to honour David Mabuza
# And the death toll continues to rise following the Texas floods

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu has rejected the allegations made against him by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, calling them baseless. Mkhwanazi accused the minister of interfering in police investigations. He also alleged the minister ordered the dissolution of the task team investigating political killings after the team had uncovered a drug cartel in Gauteng involving senior officials. Mchunu says Mkhwanazi’s statements will be reviewed, and appropriate action will be taken:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that former deputy president David Mabuza will be honoured with a state funeral, Category 2, in Mpumalanga on Saturday. The 64-year-old passed away in a Johannesburg hospital after a short illness last week. The president has also declared a period of mourning, which will be observed from today until Saturday evening. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the national flag will be flown at half mast around the country during this period:

# The GOOD Party says gang violence flourishes in communities abandoned by the state, where economic despair, spatial exclusion, and social neglect create the perfect storm for criminal networks to thrive. GOOD secretary-general, Brett Herron, referred to shooting incidents over the weekend, where five people were shot and killed in Mfuleni and Portlands, in Cape Town. He says the fact that children are being murdered on South Africa’s streets should spark urgent and united action from all levels of government:

# The City of Tshwane has begun work to formalise its relationship with the AmaNdebele ba Ndzundza, and AmaNdebele Ba Lebelo traditional councils through a Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU will allow for a structured approach to relations with the city, while giving recognition to the mandate and powers of traditional communities. The mayor’s spokesperson, Zintle Mahlati, says the traditional councils were also able to ventilate the issues impacting their communities:

# Rescue and recovery efforts are continuing after floods swept through the Texas Hill Country last Friday, leaving at least 81 people dead. The toll includes at least 28 children in Kerr County, where ten girls and one counsellor from Camp Mystic are still unaccounted for. More than 800 people have already been rescued. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says that authorities will stop at nothing to ensure every missing person is found. More rain is expected in parts of the region, which could hamper rescue teams.

# Motorsport: McLaren’s Lando Norris won a rain-affected British Grand Prix, his first victory on home soil. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, who received a ten-second penalty for a safety car controversy, finished second. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg finished third from 19th on the grid for his maiden Formula One podium at the 239th attempt. Lewis Hamilton had to settle for fourth in his first race at Silverstone as a Ferrari driver, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fifth. Norris has now reduced Piastri’s drivers’ championship lead to eight points.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-96-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-317-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….