News 09:00

BULLETIN 8 June 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC joins in celebrating the 2025 Comrades Marathon
# AfriForum says the Water and Sanitation Department’s war on leaks is failing
# And Donald Trump deploys the National Guard to contain the clashes in LA

# The ANC says it joins the people of South Africa and the world in celebrating the 2025 Comrades Marathon, which is currently underway between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The party says the iconic race brings together thousands of runners and supporters in a true display of unity, endurance, and friendship. ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says it reminds South Africans that through determination and togetherness, they can overcome any challenge:

# Cosatu has condemned what it calls the genocidal onslaught against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people.  Cosatu’s Amos Monyela says the federation is deeply pained that the United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was vetoed by America. He says it is time that the world and the UN intervene to end this and hold Israel accountable:

# AfriForum has slammed the Water and Sanitation Department’s 4.7-billion-rand war on leaks as a failure. AfriForum’s Lambert de Klerk says the project, launched in 2015, only worsened the crisis. De Klerk claims it rose water losses from 35-percent to 47-percent. The Special Investigating Unit’s findings revealed widespread fraud, incomplete work, and mismanagement. He urges government to let capable communities manage water leak repairs and infrastructure upkeep directly:

# Disabled People South Africa calls for greater protection of the rights of children with disabilities. They also support the United Nations Children’s Fund’s global efforts to improve protection for disabled children by 2030. Wrapping up Child Protection Week, the organisation’s chairperson, Patrick Mahlakoane, says these children remain among the most vulnerable in society and face barriers to education, justice, and basic services:

# US President Donald Trump is deploying two-thousand National Guardsmen in Los Angeles to deal with unrest over raids on undocumented migrants. The Californian city saw a second day of unrest on Saturday as residents clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement federal agents. As many as 118 arrests were made in LA this week as a result of ICE operations, including 44 on Friday.  Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass earlier accused the ICE of “sowing terror” in America’s second-largest city. The FBI and Homeland Security chiefs said the mayor’s comments were endangering federal agents.

# And cycling: A month ahead of the Tour de France the trio expected to dominate the race, Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel, will meet during the Critérium du Dauphiné starting today. With four hilly stages, a time trial, and three final days in the Alps, it will reveal defending Tour de France champion Pogacar’s form as well as that of his chief rival, Vingegaard. Double Olympic champion Evenepoel will be in the spotlight in the time trial, where he is world and Olympic champion. The 21-day Tour de France begins on 5 July.

Stay tuned for more news………….