News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Sisulu Foundation slams minister Ntshavheni’s coup claims
# A strike is averted at the Gautrain
# And rugby: Bok fullback Aphelele Fassi expects a physical battle against Georgia tomorrow

# The Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation for Social Justice has criticised minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s coup claims as irresponsible and dangerous. The minister disclosed this week that the security cluster had identified a risk of an attempt to overthrow the government, but that the relevant agencies are monitoring those behind the plan. The foundation says making such claims without evidence is not merely reckless; it verges on fearmongering and risks undermining investor confidence and national cohesion.

# The Public Servants Association is calling on Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to urgently expedite the appointment of a new Public Investment Corporation Board. The previous board’s term has expired. Meanwhile, PIC executive Thabiso Moshikara has been suspended amidst serious allegations of soliciting a three-million-rand bribe. PSA’s spokesperson, Claude Naiker, says the continued delays in appointing a new PIC board undermine governance and stability, at a time when decisive leadership is needed most:

# Metalworkers union Numsa and Gautrain operator Bombela Operating Company have signed a one-year, above-inflation 4.2-percent wage agreement. Wage negotiations broke down in June after the union sought a seven-percent increase. Numsa threatened to strike, accusing Bombela of tabling an inadequate offer in the face of rising living costs. The union’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says the agreement will be backdated to the first of July:

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has directed attorney general Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking case. This follows sustained pressure from some of Trump’s most loyal supporters, demanding further disclosures in the case. The Justice Department has previously said it had around 200 documents relating to Epstein and that the FBI had thousands more. It is unclear how much of the Epstein-related material in the government’s possession is grand jury testimony.

# Rugby: Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi says they are preparing for a Georgian outfit that is traditionally forward dominant and direct when the ball goes to the backline. The 23-year-old is set to earn his 12th cap for the Boks when they take on Georgia in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, tomorrow afternoon. Fassi, who will form part of a back three with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, expects a physical battle:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 120-thousand-306-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-343-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….