News 12:00

BULLETIN 12 June 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Protector says the Madlanga Commission and State Capture enquiries exposed human character failure
# FOSA demands a full-scale intelligence-driven crackdown on criminal networks operating in informal settlements
# And soccer: Government says Bafana Bafana can bounce back stronger following their World Cup opener defeat to Mexico

# Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka says the startling revelations of systemic wrongdoing exposed through the State Capture and Madlanga Commissions are consequences of human character failures, rather than skill or experience. Gcaleka was addressing religious leaders’ Winter School gathering at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape. The Public Protector says evidence led at the commissions have shown that those who committed offences, were highly-educated and experienced. She added that the country need to ensure that the educational system is centred around ethics and around human character.

# The Forum for South Africa is demanding a full-scale intelligence-driven crackdown on organised criminal networks operating in informal settlements across the country. This follows the mass shooting incident at Jumpers Informal Settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of 12 people. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says the fact that over ten armed suspects were able to carry out coordinated killings and escape without immediate arrest exposes serious gaps in intelligence, policing visibility, and crime prevention:

# The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, has launched four new digital services as part of its modernisation programme. These include the Cooperatives Director Amendments platform, Case Management System, Customer Enquiry Management System and LiveChat service. The CIPC says the new tools replace paper-based processes, improve efficiency, strengthen compliance and enhance customer support. Officials say the digital platforms will improve turnaround times, increase accountability and provide more accessible and reliable services to businesses and the public.

# Soccer: Government has commended Bafana Bafana for their spirited performance against Mexico in their opening match of the World Cup. South Africa suffered a 2-0 defeat to the tournament co-hosts and finished the game with nine men following red cards for Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane. Deputy government spokesperson, William Baloyi, says while the final score was not what the nation had hoped for, the team represented the country with a sense of pride on the world’s biggest stage:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-25-cents and the euro at 18-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-413-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-212-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

# And finally: UK Armed Forces minister, Al Carns, has resigned hours after the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey over a dispute about military funding. He is the seventh minister in prime minister Keir Starmer’s government to step down in the past month. In his resignation letter, Carns argued that the defence investment plan is not built for the threat the world faces, and is neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded. He added that a strong country is not simply one with capable armed forces, but one where working people feel economically secure.

Stay tuned for more news………….