News 11:00

BULLETIN 9 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police minister Mchunu denies links to accused underworld figure Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala
# Over 160 people are still missing after the deadly floods in Texas
# And rugby: Willie ;e Roux will become the eighth Springbok to reach 100 Tests on Saturday

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu says he has never met, spoken, requested, or received anything from tenderpreneur Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala, who was arrested in May for attempted murder. According to KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, evidence found on Matlala’s phone links the minister to unauthorised communications through an associate, Brown Mogotsi. The Police ministry’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, says Mchunu did initiate a review of the police tender awarded to Matlala when suspicions of possible wrongdoing surfaced:

# The 30-percent US tariff decision is not good news for the South African economy, and its potential negative economic impact should not be underestimated. This is according to North-West University Business School economist professor Raymond Parsons. He says the global reality is that the aggressive US tariff policy is creating a fragmented world trading system that further elevates economic uncertainty, disrupts supply chains and hampers economic activity:

# The Freedom Front Plus says it opposes the plans by the ANC in the City of Tshwane to convene a special council meeting to remove city manager Johann Mettler from office. This follows a letter from Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo last month, flagging the interview panel for Mettler’s appointment and his qualifications under the Municipal Finance Management Act. The FF Plus says this is a calculated strategy by the ANC to remove honest administrators and replace them with people who can be controlled.

# Texas governor Gregg Abbot says there are still 161 people missing following the catastrophic flash floods that hit parts of the state last weekend. Among the missing are five children and a counsellor from Camp Mystic, where at least 27 people were killed in the floods. At least 109 people have died in the disaster, including 94 in the Kerrville area alone. Abbot says the priority now is finding victims:

# Rugby: Willie le Roux will become the eighth Springbok centurion when they play Italy in the second Test in Gqeberha on Saturday. The team will be captained by Salmaan Moerat while Siya Kolisi continues his recovery from injury. Three players – Jasper Wiese’s brother, Cobus, Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Ethan Hooker – could make their debuts from the bench, and Manie Libbok and Grant Williams are the new half-back pairing. Coach Rassie Erasmus says Le Roux is a fantastic playmaker and he’s thrilled to see him achieve this incredible feat.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-84-cents and the euro at 20-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-778-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-289-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….