News 11:00

BULLETIN 29 June 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Steenhuisen accuses Hill-Lewis and DA insiders of orchestrating his downfall
# Police launch a high-level probe into the shooting of Crime Intelligence deputy head Feroz Khan
# And soccer: Hugo Broos is not ready to confirm his retirement following Bafana Bafana’s World Cup exit

# Former DA leader, minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, has accused party insiders of orchestrating his downfall, saying leader Geordin Hill-Lewis gave his head to a baying mob of hyenas. Hill-Lewis has requested president Cyril Ramaphosa to make changes to the party’s minister, including demoting Steenhuisen to Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister. Steenhuisen told News24 a PR firm run by former DA leader Tony Leon, Resolve Communications, is driving a campaign against him:

# Ramaphosa reportedly personally instructed the ANC to abandon its intervention in his review application challenging the Section 89 Independent panel report into the Phala Phala scandal. The party formally withdrew its bid to participate in the case last week. This comes after National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza decided not to oppose Ramaphosa’s review application. Sunday Times reported Ramaphosa’s intervention followed an explosive national working committee meeting, in which some of his closest allies openly questioned whether the ANC should continue to defend him.

# Police have launched a high-level investigation following the attempted assassination of Crime Intelligence deputy head, Feroz Khan. He was shot in Johannesburg yesterday evening, and is currently in a critical condition in hospital. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, says acting commissioner Puleng Dimpane has directed that the political killings task team be incorporated into the investigation to ensure every possible lead is pursued:

Moving abroad:

# Pakistan says it carried out an intelligence-based ground operation and precision airstrikes along its border with Afghanistan, killing 29 militants. This comes after three members of Pakistani paramilitary force, the Sindh Rangers, were killed at their headquarters in Karachi on Saturday. Afghanistan’s Taliban government says the strikes hit civilian homes and not militant hideouts. It has condemned Pakistan’s attack as a crime and an atrocity. This latest flare-up of violence comes despite the two countries having agreed to a ceasefire in October last year.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he will take some time to reflect before deciding on his future. He suggested he would step away from coaching once South Africa’s World Cup journey came to an end. Last night’s defeat to Canada brought an end to a historic campaign in which Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time. Broos says whatever decision he makes won’t be easy:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 18-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-928-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-60-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….