News 12:00

BULLETIN 24 June 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Border Management Authority records a surge in departures ahead of the protest deadline
# The Gauteng Education Department apologises for the delays in issuing report cards
# And soccer: Broos believes they can make history by reaching the World Cup round of 32 for the first time

# The Border Management Authority says more than 12-thousand migrants have left South Africa through the Beitbridge border post in Limpopo over the past five days. The departures include over nine-thousand Malawians and three-thousand Zimbabweans who were repatriated or deported. Hundreds of Ghanians and Nigerians have also departed through OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. Authorities say the increased movement comes ahead of Tuesday’s planned anti-illegal immigration demonstrations, with authorities remaining on high alert.

The chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police, Ian Cameron, is meanwhile calling on the ministry to provide a detailed explanation on the allocated 600-million-rand to strengthen security measures for the protests. Acting minister Firoz Cachalia has defended the expenditure, saying large-scale security operations are necessary when there are attempts to destabilise the country. Cameron says there is a legitimate need for police to prepare properly for any protest that may carry a risk of violence, but this does not remove the obligation to account for the cost.

# The Gauteng Department of Education has issued an apology to learners, parents, and schools affected by delays in the issuing of report cards. The delay is due to technical challenges affecting access to the South African School Administration and Management System, following the temporary unavailability of the Citrix environment that supports the system. The department’s spokesperson, Onwabile Lubhelwana, says system administrators and technicians are actively working to restore full functionality and normalise access as soon as possible:

# The Department of Home Affairs says 203 bank branches now offer smart ID replacement through its partnership with the banking sector. Minister Leon Schreiber says the expansion increased access to smart ID services by 73-percent over three months. He says the initiative will replace green ID books and reduce identity theft. Schreiber says they aim to expand to 750 bank branches by the end of the year:

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes they have what it takes to make history when they face South Korea in their final Group A World Cup match in Monterrey tomorrow. For South Africa to qualify for the round of 32 for the first time, they must win and hope co-hosts Mexico beat the Czech Republic. Broos is expecting a fiercely contested match against a tough and physical South Korea:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-62-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-620-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-79-dollars-10-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….