News 08:00

BULLETIN 24 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Assembly adopts new rules around the impeachment of a president
# An economist warns of a possible short-term economic slowdown in South Africa
# And, the Senate approves a resolution to halt US military action against Iran

# The National Assembly has adopted a report looking at the rules around section 89 inquiries in Parliament, which deal with the removal of a president. In May, the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament’s rules on the impeachment of a president were invalid. The apex court ordered Parliament to rewrite its framework and adopt amended rules to ensure presidential accountability cannot be blocked by procedural votes. The adoption of the report will guide the Impeachment Committee in its work, despite president Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent court bid to halt the process.

# Independent economist John Loos says South Africa’s household sector is showing early signs of a slowdown, after the South African Reserve Bank’s leading business cycle indicator recorded its sharpest monthly decline since early 2023. The April reading fell by 1.78-percent, while year-on-year growth also eased from 5.8-percent in March to 4.1-percent. Loos forecasts gross domestic product growth of about one-percent this year before a recovery next year:

# The EFF says the DA and ActionSA have betrayed the people of Ekurhuleni by helping the ANC adopt an anti-poor, unfunded budget that doesn’t support insourcing. The metro’s 71-billion-rand 2026/2027 budget has passed after three previous failed attempts. The EFF says it voted against the budget as it remains disconnected from the realities of declining service delivery, deteriorating infrastructure and over-reliance on contracted services. It adds that the repeated failure by the ANC to pass its own budget demonstrated the consequences of governing through arrogance rather than consultation.

# The Republican-controlled US Senate has passed the Iran Powers Resolution, an act that blocks military action against Tehran unless there’s congressional authorisation. The resolution passed by a 50-48 vote, with four Republicans breaking with their party to support its adoption. The resolution does not require president Donald Trump’s signature. Democratic minority leader, Chuck Schumer, says Trump’s historic blunder in Iran will go down in the history books as one of the worst foreign policy forays America has ever made:

# Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as he inspired Portugal to their first victory in Group K, thrashing Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston. He is the first player to score at six different World Cups. In Boston, England was held to a goalless draw against Ghana, the tournament’s second-lowest-ranked team. The Three Lions remain top of Group L, but must now wait until their final game against Panama to ensure qualification for the knockout phase. Substitute Ante Budimir’s goal gave Croatia their first win of the World Cup, beating Panama 1-0 in Toronto.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-57-cents and the euro at 18-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-86-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-548-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-59-dollars-8-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-7-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….