News 07:00

BULLETIN 13 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa has deported or repatriated more than 50-thousand foreign since June
# Firoz Cachalia is concerned by the inflammatory rhetoric against the government
# And, Pakistan calls on the US and Iran to de-escalate

# Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says government is continuing to facilitate the return of foreign nationals to their home countries guided by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration’s five-point plan. To date, a total of 53-thousand-449 foreign nationals have been processed for deportation and repatriation, which is dominated by Malawians, followed by Zimbabweans and Mozambicans. Kubayi says law enforcement agencies have opened 205 cases and arrested 350 individuals linked to intimidation, vigilantism, and migration-related offences:

Meanwhile, acting Police minister, Firoz Cachalia, has expressed concern about what he described as widespread misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric being aimed at the South African government. The government has faced criticism for allocating 600-million-rand for policing the 30 June demonstrations against undocumented immigrants. Cachalia said the government is acutely aware of the financial, human, and economic consequences of failing to prepare for major security threats:

# The inquest into the death of Anele Tembe, former fiancé, of late rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, gets underway today at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, with her family hoping the proceedings will finally provide answers and closure. The three-day hearing will examine the circumstances surrounding the 22-year-old’s fatal fall from the Pepperclub Hotel in 2021. Six of 23 subpoenaed witnesses are expected to testify. The inquest also comes three years after the murder of Forbes in Durban, with seven suspects currently awaiting trial.

# Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, says her department will introduce an interim bus service for Hammanskraal and surrounding communities this week. This follows the North West Transport Investment’s failure to honour its contract. NTI, which transports more than 3.6-million passengers annually between Gauteng and North West, owes the Gauteng Transport Department 108-million-rand in penalties arising from service suspensions and disruptions. Diale-Tlabela says NTI buses are non-compliant and lack operating permits:

# Pakistan’s ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is following with deep concern the recent incidents that are further escalating tensions in the Middle East. The US and Iran traded another round of strikes over the weekend, with Washington striking more than 140 targets across Tehran. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched attacks on US bases and allies across the region. Pakistan, which has played a key role in mediating peace talks, has urged both sides to exercise restraint and uphold the commitments made in the memorandum of understanding.

# Cricket: Brendon McCullum will step down as England’s Test head coach, bringing an end to a four-year tenure. This follows a string of poor results, including the 4-1 Ashes series defeat to Australia late last year, and several off-field incidents. England have lost eight of their last 12 Tests under the 44-year-old – and won only three – following the recent 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand. McCullum, who will continue to lead the men’s white-ball teams, says he is gutted but immensely proud of what they achieved as a team.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-89-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-587-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-86-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-10-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….