News 13:00

BULLETIN 11 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Gauteng Health Department will expedite the identification of 12 learners and their driver
# Cosatu welcomes the sentencing of the former chairperson of VBS Mutual Bank
# And, rugby: The Boks release nine players to their Currie Cup teams

# The Gauteng Health Department will commence the identification process of 12 learners and their driver who died in a crash in Merafong, Carletonville, on their way to school. DNA testing will begin as some bodies were burnt beyond recognition. A bakkie hit the learner transport yesterday, causing it to overturn and burst into flames. Eleven learners from Rocklands Primary School and one from Laerskool Blyvooruitsig died. Seven others are recovering in hospital.

# Union federation Cosatu has welcomed the sentencing of former VBS Mutual Bank chairperson Tshifhiwa Matodzi. The High Court in Pretoria sentenced him to an effective 15 years for theft, fraud, money laundering and racketeering that culminated in the collapse of the bank. Almost two-billion-rand was looted from VBS. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, says Matodzi admitted he was motivated by greed because he already lived a comfortable life as a chartered account:

# The Green Connection says the continuing price hikes by Eskom mean that more and more people are finding electricity to be unaffordable. A 12.75-percent tariff increase came into effect in April. Green Connection’s Liziwe McDaid says part of the problem is that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa has not reviewed the methodology for the tariffs, which needs to change urgently:

# The South African Human Rights Commission has condemned the recent violent crimes committed against the elderly across the country. These include the killing of an elderly resident and allegations of rape at Ipeleng Bagodi’s old age home in North West, and the assault of an elderly woman, allegedly by her 19-year-old grandson, in the Western Cape. The commission says it is distressing that older persons are experiencing abuse from people in their communities who should provide support and protection.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus released nine players to their provincial unions because they aren’t involved in Saturday’s series decider against Ireland in Durban. They will return on Sunday ahead of next weekend’s Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein. Six of them have Test caps: Trevor Nyakane, Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe, André Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi. The others are Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Phepsi Buthelezi, and Morné van den Berg. These players are expected to inject some experience and skill into their respective Currie Cup teams.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-249-dollars-35-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-384-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….