News 09:00

BULLETIN 19 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IFP leader welcomes Ramaphosa’s commitment to helping struggling municipalities
# ActionSA says it is cautiously optimistic following the president’s address
# And Donald Trump recounts the assassination attempt publicly for the first time

# IFP leader and minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says he welcomes president Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment that struggling municipalities will be assisted. Delivering his opening of Parliament address in Cape Town yesterday evening, the president said the government is committed to bringing stability to governance in metros and restoring delivery services. Hlabisa says dysfunctional municipalities will be turned around:

Meanwhile, ActionSA says Ramaphosa’s address offered up a mixture of cautious optimism and critical scepticism. The party’s Parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, says the language and policies in the president’s speech reflect what ActionSA has advocated for years, including maintaining state infrastructure and employing competent, qualified personnel. He says however that there were glaring omissions of critical issues:

# The Freedom Front Plus in Ekurhuleni says it has submitted proposals to the metro’s Energy Department, to prevent or limit the damage caused to critical power infrastructure by veld fires. This follows a recent veld fire near Modderfontein Road in Kempton Park, which destroyed power infrastructure and left Ester Park residents without power. The FF Plus says there are several decisive steps the department can take including routine inspections and frequent maintenance of power infrastructure, and improving the capacity and readiness of local emergency response teams.

# Former US president Donald Trump recounted his assassination attempt while addressing the Republican convention in Milwaukee, saying he is not supposed to be alive. The Republican presidential nominee was shot in the ear by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last weekend. The Secret Service killed Crooks on the scene. Trump says despite the bullets flying, he felt serene:

# Cricket: Ollie Pope scored his sixth Test century as England dominated the first day of the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge. The 26-year-old scored 121 and shared a quick-fire 105 stand with Ben Duckett. The hosts lost their last five wickets for 74 runs, as they were bowled out for 416 in their first innings. Alzarri Joseph claimed three wickets. England lead the three-match series one-nil after winning the first Test by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-27-cents and the euro at 19-rand-90-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-919-dollars-35-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-425-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….