News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa hails the Proteas on their historic World championship victory
# The FBI hunts a suspect in the assassination of a Democratic legislator in Minnesota
# And rugby: The Bulls are thoroughly thrashed by Leinster in the United Rugby Championships final

# Cricket: President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated South Africa’s cricket team on winning the ICC World Test Championships against Australia at Lords in London yesterday. The Proteas won by five wickets on the fourth day, with most credit for their victory going to captain Temba Bavuma and batsman Aiden Markram scoring 69 and 136 respectively, in their second innings. President Ramaphosa said coach Shukri Conrad, Bavuma, and the team have done South Africa proud. They started the match as underdogs but their indomitable spirit, which is a characteristic of our nation, carried the team through.

Bavuma was asked to sum up his emotions after the match:

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi says environmental health inspectors will assess flood-hit Mthatha for waterborne and winter illnesses. Motsoaledi warns that the region’s already fragile health facilities, including mortuaries, are under strain following the disaster. He stressed the importance of autopsies and proper preparation of bodies for grieving families, adding that respiratory infections and diseases like influenza may rise in the aftermath of the flooding:

# Sanral has launched a 500-million-rand road upgrade initiative in the Free State, with work including pothole repairs, road markings, and drainage maintenance. Sanral is also engaging small, medium, and micro enterprises through workshops on compliance and tendering. Acting stakeholder coordinator Thandeka Ngema says ongoing community dialogue will ensure transparency. This will boost job opportunities and economic growth for towns including Jacobsdal, Koffiefontein, and Trompsburg. She says that the upgrades support agriculture and improve regional connectivity across key national roads.

# Thousands of workers have been laid off in Lesotho’s garment industry following a looming 50-percent US tariff under review. Factories in Maseru’s Thetsane industrial area have suspended operations for at least three months due to dried-up orders. Trade unions warn that up to 20-thousand jobs are at risk. The government has yet to offer solid support, while factory owners scramble to secure South African orders and alternative markets. Workers demand severance as uncertainty deepens.

# A gunman posing as a police officer killed a senior Democratic state assemblywoman and her husband yesterday in an apparent politically motivated assassination. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the gunman also wounded a second lawmaker and his spouse. A major search backed by the FBI was underway for the suspect, who fled on foot after firing at police and abandoning a vehicle in which officers found a “manifesto” and a list of other legislators and officials. According to law enforcement officials the list found in the abandoned vehicle had about 70 names.

# And rugby: The Bulls were convincingly thumped in the final of the United Rugby Championships by Leinster in Dublin last night going down by 32-7 to the Irish outfit. Leinster dominated from the start, and at half-time, they were leading 19-0. The chances of the Bulls mounting a massive comeback from that far down against the top side in the competition were hardly likely. Leinster scored four tries, while the Bulls’ points came from a try by replacement hooker Akker van der Merwe in the 50th minute that Johan Goosen converted.

Stay tuned for more news………….