News 11:00

BULLETIN 3 June 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says IPID is delaying its access to the Phala Phala report
# The Police are close to making a breakthrough in the murder case of the IFP deputy chief whip
# And, the UN chief is calling for a probe into the killings at a food distribution site in Gaza

# ActionSA says the Independent Police Investigative Directorate has requested a 30-day extension to the party’s Promotion of Access to Information Act application. The PAIA application is for the unsealing of the IPID report, which investigated the conduct of the Presidential Protection Unit concerning their involvement in the 2020 Phala Phala theft matter. Police minister Senzo Mchunu classified the report as “top secret”. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont says the IPID’s reasoning for missing the initial May deadline is that its email system was down:

# The National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, says he is confident that the team assigned to investigate the murder of IFP deputy chief whip, Khethamabala Sithole, will soon register a breakthrough. He was killed in Katlehong on Gauteng’s East Rand on Saturday night, in what his party has called an assassination. National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says the investigating team is making progress in tracking down the alleged killer:

# The Western Cape High Court is today set to hear the EFF’s urgent bid to block Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s fuel levy hike. Last month in his budget speech, the minister announced increases of 15-cents per litre for diesel and 16-cents per litre for petrol respectively. In its founding affidavit, the EFF argues that the fuel levy hike is procedurally flawed and substantively irrational. Minister Godongwana has warned that there would be a 3.5-billion-rand budget shortfall should the levies not be increased.

# The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, is calling for an independent investigation into the killing of Palestinians near an aid distribution centre in Gaza. At least 31 people died when the Israeli military allegedly fired at civilians near the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation food centre in Rafah on Sunday. Israel has strongly denied any involvement. Guterres says it is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food. He adds that an immediate, permanent, and sustainable ceasefire is urgently needed in Gaza.

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana is looking to finish the inaugural Tri-Nations Series strong when they face Zambia at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria this afternoon. South Africa comes into the match following a 3–2 win over Botswana last Wednesday, while Zambia were held to a 1-1 draw by the same side this past weekend. The series is in preparation for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July. Coach Desiree Ellis says Zambia will be a tough opponent:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-83-cents and the euro at 20-rand-36-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-748-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-353-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….