News 12:00

BULLETIN 22 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A suspect is arrested for the murder of the chief auditor of the Ekurhuleni Municipality
# An education activist says Manamela’s elevation to Higher Education minister is well deserved
# And soccer: Banyana Banyana plays in the semifinal of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tonight

# A suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of the chief auditor of the Ekurhuleni Municipality in Gauteng. Mpho Mafole was shot and killed on the R23 road in Kempton Park last month. Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi says a 40-year-old man is expected to appear in the local Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. She says the team is also looking for a second suspect, Hlanganani Mncwango, after a warrant of arrest was issued for him:

# Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, has welcomed the appointment of Buti Manamela as the new minister of Higher Education and Training. His appointment follows the firing of Nobuhle Nkabane over controversy over the Sector Education and Training Authorities board appointments. Makaneta says Manamela is no stranger to the terrain of Higher Education, having served as the deputy minister, and spent his student days fighting academic and financial exclusions:

# The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has condemned the killing of Palestinians at aid distribution points in Gaza. Over 800 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while seeking aid in recent months. According to the United Nations, most of those killed had been close to aid sites managed by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Makgoba says it cannot be beyond human ingenuity to provide food to starving people without killing them. He adds that he weeps at the continued killing of civilians.

# US president Donald Trump’s administration has released over 200-thousand pages of records on the assassination of human rights activist Martin Luther King Junior. He was shot dead in Memphis on April 4th 1968, at the age of 39. The records, which were under a court-imposed seal since 1977, include FBI surveillance files and leads received after King’s assassination. The slain Nobel Laureate’s family, including his two living children, have urged that those who engage with the release of these files do so with empathy, restraint, and respect.

# Soccer: Defending champions Banyana Banyana play Nigeria in the semifinal of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco tonight. South Africa earlier defeated Ghana, Tanzania and Mali before beating Senegal on penalties in the quarterfinal to book their place in the penultimate round. Head coach Desiree Ellis describes her team as resilient and courageous, with a never-say-die attitude. The hostesses and Ghana face off in the other semifinal, with the final taking place on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-67-cents and the euro at 20-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-567-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-388-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….