News 07:00

BULLETIN 24 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The High Court is going to deliver judgment in Ramaphosa’s urgent application today
# Solidarity says the Reserve Bank showed good judgement by keeping the interest rates unchanged
# And, the US House of Representatives passes a resolution directing Trump to withdraw the troops from Iran

# All eyes will be on the Western Cape High Court today for the judgment on president Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent application to halt Parliament’s Impeachment Committee. He wants to pause the committee’s work until the finalisation of his bid to set aside the Section 89 report, which found he had a case to answer on the Phala Phala scandal. Ramaphosa’s lawyer, advocate Wim Trengove, told the court last week that the president’s reputation would be harmed, and he would be publicly humiliated if he were to face an inquiry on spurious charges.

# Trade union Solidarity has welcomed the South African Reserve Bank’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at seven-percent. According to the union, the recent rise in inflation is mainly due to higher fuel prices and not monetary policy, meaning a rate hike would have had little effect. Solidarity’s Theuns du Buisson believes inflation will ease as fuel prices fall and keeping interest rates unchanged will bring relief to households and businesses.

# The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has ruled that controversial North West businessman Suliman Carrim’s application for a postponement of his testimony will be heard in public today. He had initially applied for the postponement application to be heard in camera, citing his rights to medical privacy due to an undisclosed illness. The commission has ruled that his illness, hospital, and his doctors cannot be identified. Testifying before the commission earlier this year, Carrim admitted to dealings with organised crime accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Brown Mogotsi.

# The Build One South Africa board has resolved to terminate the membership of the party’s Gauteng Provincial Legislature member, Ayanda Allie. This follows the conclusion of an internal disciplinary process. Board chairperson Stevens Mokgalapa says the issues giving rise to these proceedings have been under consideration since BOSA first indicated its intention to institute disciplinary proceedings in July last year. He says over an extended period, the party undertook repeated efforts through engagement, consultation and mediation to resolve the matter amicably:

# The US House of Representatives has passed the War Powers resolution, directing president Donald Trump to withdraw the military from the conflict with Iran. Four Republicans voted with Democrats in support of the measure, with the vote being 214 to 208. Meanwhile, the Senate voted on its own effort to advance a measure to rein in Trump’s war powers in Iran – but the vote failed. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says no one wants the war except Trump and his cronies:

# Cricket: Next year’s Ashes series between England and Australia will see Tests being played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Lord’s in London, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Southampton, and The Oval in London. The tour starts on 18 June, with Southampton hosting an Ashes Test for the very first time when the fourth encounter starts on the 21st of July. The two countries’ women’s teams will play each other in a one-off Test at Headingley from 24 June, followed by three T20s and three one-day matches.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-80-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-31-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-43-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….