News 12:00

BULLETIN 18 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Struggle stalwarts accuse the current ANC leadership of insulting Mandela’s legacy
# ActionSA says South African prisons effectively serve as taxpayer-funded holiday resorts
# And, rugby: The World Cup tour goes to Bloemfontein before the Test between the Boks and Portugal

# Anti-apartheid stalwarts Cas Coovadia, Neeshan Balton, and Mavuso Msimang, have expressed concern that the current ANC leadership has deviated from Nelson Mandela’s philosophy. Today marks Nelson Mandela International Day. The stalwarts accuse the leaders of abandoning Mandela’s values of selflessness, to prioritise their own personal interests. Coovadia is calling on the government of national unity to reclaim Mandela’s principles, while Balton and Msimang stress the importance of unity and fulfilment of unrealised economic goals.

# ActionSA says it is outraged that South Africa’s prisons have effectively become taxpayer-funded holiday resorts, where criminals live carefree without any constraint or consequences. A video circulating on social media shows an inmate from Cape Town’s Goodwood Correctional Centre boasting that he has access to free food and electricity, and the ability to use a cellphone anytime. ActionSA’s Samkelo Mgobozi says this is a damning indictment of a failed correctional system and an insult to the victims of these criminals:

# Western Cape MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, says he will request minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen to implement a temporary ban on the movement of livestock into the province. This follows the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the Eastern Cape. Meyer says given the threat that the disease poses to the cattle industry, livestock owners must remain vigilant, and step up their biosecurity measures:

# Union federation Cosatu is calling for sanctions against Eswatini for sentencing two members of Parliament to 68 years imprisonment for calling for democracy. Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were found guilty of inciting unrest during pro-democracy protests in June 2021. Over 80 protesters were killed. In June last year, they were convicted of terrorism, sedition and murder. Cosatu’s Bongani Masuku says they are shocked and outraged by the cruel and savage persecution of the two MPs:

# Rugby: Residents of Bloemfontein and visitors to the Free State capital for Saturday’s Test between the Springboks and Portugal will be treated to the sight of the World Cup today. Five members of the triumphant Bok team will visit the Loch Logan Mall from 1pm. They are local heroes Ox Nché and Cobus Reinach, and Lukhanyo Am, Grant Williams and Trevor Nyakane. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says it’s great to take the trophy to Bloemfontein before the Boks face Portugal at a sold-out Free State Stadium.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-17-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-794-dollars-86-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-472-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….