News 08:00

BULLETIN 4 July 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Saftu calls for reduced transport fares following fuel price drop
# The Electoral Court slaps two MK Party members with a R150,000 fine
# And, Democratic governors pledge their support for president Biden

# Union federation Saftu is calling for immediate reductions in taxi and bus fares following the latest fuel price decrease. According to the federation, despite lower fuel costs, public transport fares remain unchanged, posing a continued financial strain on working-class commuters. Saftu’s Trevor Shaku calls on the government to intervene, ensuring that reduced fuel prices translate into lower transportation expenses, thereby easing living expenses for workers:

# The Electoral Court has fined MK Party members Visvin Reddy and Bonginkosi Khanyile 150-thousand-rand each for breaching the Electoral Act by inciting violence and riots before the general elections. In March, the two publicly said there would be anarchy and riots if the MK Party were not registered, and if former president Jacob Zuma was not on the ballot. The court has suspended Reddy and Khanyile’s fine for five years, provided they don’t seek to undermine any electoral processes during the same period.

# The EFF in Gauteng says it is unimpressed by the reappointment of the same old ANC leaders into government positions, despite the clear dissatisfaction expressed by residents in the elections. Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced a cabinet that consists of seven ANC MECs and one each from the IFP, Patriotic Alliance, and Rise Mzansi. EFF provincial chairperson, Nkululeko Dunga, says they will assume its role as an effective opposition that will hold the current executive accountable:

# A group of leading Democratic governors have voiced their support for president Joe Biden after meeting him and vice president Kamala Harris at the White House. This comes as reports are suggesting that the president was weighing his future after his disastrous debate with Donald Trump last week. New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, says they are fully behind Biden as defeating Trump in November is the priority:

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz are through to the Wimbledon third round. Italian Sinner defeated his compatriot and former finalist Matteo Berrettini, 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6, while Spain’s Alcaraz eased passed Australian Aleksandar Vukic, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2. Norway’s Casper Ruud suffered a defeat to Italy’s Fabio Fognini. In the women’s draw, American Emma Navarro knocked out Japan’s Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-1, while Britian’s Emma Raducanu has set up a third-round clash with Maria Sakkari of Greece.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-872-dollars-46-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-359-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….