News 12:00

BULLETIN 16 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF is demanding answers on the governance crisis at the Public Investment Corporation
# The UN chief calls for a de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy amid renewed American-Iranian hostilities
# And government calls on South Africans to honour Mandela Month through service and active citizenship

# The EFF has asked the chairperson of Parliament’s standing committee on Finance, Joseph Maswangwanyi, for an urgent meeting regarding the governance crisis at the Public Investment Corporation. CEO Patrick Dlamini was provisionally suspended following allegations of impropriety contained in a whistleblower report, while two board members resigned. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has meanwhile launched an investigation into the PIC, citing governance and leadership stability concerns. The EFF says this level of leadership instability at the country’s largest asset manager cannot be left unexamined.

# The African Transformation Movement says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s application to interdict the Section 89 impeachment process in the High Court falls short of the legal threshold to prove irreparable harm. Ramaphosa wants Parliament to stay its proceedings until the court has reviewed the Section 89 panel report into Phala Phala, which he believes is fatally flawed. ATM leader Vuyolwethu Zungula says it’s clear Ramaphosa is trying to avoid accountability:

Moving abroad:

# United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has expressed concern at the continuing military escalation in the Middle East. The US military launched more waves of attacks on Iran yesterday, aimed at degrading its ability to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran struck American military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says navigational rights and freedoms must be respected by all sides, in line with international law:

# Swimming: Australian Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan announced she had been told to stop swimming immediately last month because of spinal stress fractures, but had been cleared to race at next week’s Commonwealth Games. The reigning Olympic 200-meter freestyle champion says scans showed stress fractures and bone oedema on her lumbar spine and her team sought advice from a spinal specialist. O’Callaghan is entered in three individual events in Glasgow, as well as several women’s and mixed relays, but she hinted her schedule could change.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 18-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-59-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-32-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Government is encouraging South Africans to participate in Mandela Month initiatives and extend a helping hand wherever it’s needed. The month provides people with an opportunity to honour the life and legacy of the late former president through service to others and by helping to build stronger, more caring communities. Government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa says citizens must embrace a lasting commitment to kindness, service and active citizenship throughout the year:

Stay tuned for more news………….