News 11:00

BULLETIN 13 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cat Matlala has withdrawn from his plea and sentencing agreement
# Iran launches retaliatory strikes on American bases in the Middle East
# And rugby: The Junior Bok coach is expecting a tough and physical semifinal clash against England

# Alleged underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has withdrawn from the plea and sentence agreement in connection with the 228‑million-rand Medicare24 health and wellness police tender. The Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria had rejected his proposed eight-year plea and sentence agreement earlier this month, in which he also committed to testifying as a state witness in collaboration with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption. The court found the proposal to be unjust and recommended a 12-year prison term instead. Matlala’s case has been postponed to the 11th of September.

# Acting minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, says they will be mobilising more resources to tighten security ahead of the second voter registration weekend in August, and the local government elections in November. In the past few months, at least 12 councillors have been murdered, linked to political violence. Cachalia has emphasised government has a responsibility to ensure elections are conducted in a safe environment, particularly amid concerns over political violence:

# ActionSA says despite the City of Johannesburg being Africa’s leading commercial hub, it continues to struggle to provide a reliable, safe, affordable, and efficient public transport system. Spokesperson Lebo Mokoka says residents wake up before dawn to catch overcrowded taxis, unreliable buses, and trains that often fail to arrive on time or at all. She says this is a direct result of years of inadequate planning, poor investment decisions, and a lack of political vision over the central role transport plays in urban development:

Moving abroad:

# Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched retaliatory strikes at US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain this morning. This comes after the US attacked Tehran yesterday, targeting the Iranian military’s air-defence systems, coastal radar sites, and missile and drone capabilities. Iran claims the strikes killed one person and injured four others. The renewed attacks have put in jeopardy an interim ceasefire agreement signed last month, which included the cessation of hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

# Rugby: Junior Springbok coach, Kevin Foote, says they have prepared well for tonight’s Junior World Championship semifinal against England in Tbilisi, Georgia. He has made four changes to the side that defeated Wales in their final Pool A encounter, with six forwards and two backs on the bench. Foote says they have selected an exciting team and a combination best suited to their game model against a very good English side:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-713-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-53-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….