News 09:00

BULLETIN 13 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa awaits Ramaphosa’s address on the political interference in the police
# Palestinian officials say the Gaza ceasefire talks are on the verge of collapse
# And rugby: The All Blacks thump France in their second test with a six-try victory

# South Africans are waiting for president Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation tonight on explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, implicating senior SAPS and political leaders in crime-linked interference. This comes as National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza tasked three Parliamentary committees to urgently probe the matter. Ramaphosa is expected to announce steps to restore security integrity and public trust amid the escalating political and policing crisis.

# Suspended Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo says he and chief investment officer, Sefotle Modiba, are being targeted for exposing internal corruption. This follows a Special Investigating Unit probe into a 79-million-rand lease deal allegedly awarded improperly to Mowana Properties. Letsoalo denies any misconduct, insisting procurement procedures were followed. Speaking in Tshwane, he claims implicated individuals are damaging their reputations and that black executives are being persecuted for challenging entrenched graft:

# The GOOD Party has condemned the latest mass shooting in Bishop Lavis, where four people were gunned down on Friday night. GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron says with no increased police presence or public outcry, the Cape Flats killings have become disturbingly normalised. Citing crime stats showing 81-percent of Western Cape murders occur in Cape Town, he accused the City and province of entrenching spatial injustice and failing to address the root causes of violence:

# Negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal are on the brink of collapse, according to Palestinian officials familiar with the details of the discussions. One senior official told the BBC that Israel had “bought time” during prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week. They also deliberately stalled the process by sending a delegation to Doha with no real authority to make decisions on key points. The official also claimed that Israel was pursuing a long-term strategy of forced displacement under the guise of humanitarian planning.

# And sports news:

# Soccer: England meets the French in a much-anticipated match as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain stand to make men’s soccer history on American soil in today’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. PSG are breaking new ground as this was their debut at the competition, and victory would secure their first World Cup title with 179-million-rand on the line. The final rekindles a fierce rivalry last seen in the Champions League in 2016, when the French side edged a Champions League last-16 tie with back-to-back 2–1 wins.

# And rugby: The All Blacks bounced back with a comprehensive victory over visiting  France to win the second Test by 43- 17 and claim a 2-0 lead at Sky Stadium in Wellington. They led 29-3 at half-time after tries by  Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor, and Tupou Vaa’i. This comes after a nervous 31-27 win in the previous test. And in Adelaide, winger Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick for the British and Irish Lions, helping them to a 48 – 0 win over a combined Australia/New Zealand invitation team.

Stay tuned for more news………….