News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA will not defend Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero against a motion of no confidence
# Transnet is overwhelmed by private sector interest
# And Iran votes to suspend cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog

# ActionSA says it will abstain from today’s motion of no confidence against Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero, citing his failure to deliver basic services across the city. The party says it cannot defend Morero’s leadership, which it describes as dysfunctional and unresponsive. ActionSA’s Michael Beaumont revealed that Al Jama-ah tried to get their support to reinstate former mayor Kabelo Gwamanda despite fraud allegations against him:

# Transnet is reportedly overwhelmed by private sector interest in South Africa’s rail network. According to Public Enterprises minister Barbara Creecy, there has been strong demand from private companies eager to invest and participate in rail operations to help revive the struggling sector. Transnet’s rail infrastructure has faced major challenges, including inefficiencies and underinvestment. Government hopes increased private involvement will improve freight movement and support economic growth across key trade corridors.

# South Africa’s naval defences are reportedly in crisis, with key frigates and submarines out of action, exposing critical trade routes to potential threats. A News24 investigation has revealed that most of the Navy’s fleet, meant to protect shipping lanes and territorial waters, is non-operational due to maintenance delays and budget constraints. Experts warn this weakens South Africa’s ability to secure its coastline, leaving vital ports and maritime trade vulnerable. The Navy’s declining capacity raises major national security and economic concerns.

Moving abroad:

# Israel’s military says it was too early to assess the damage caused to Iran’s nuclear sites, a day after a ceasefire ended 12 days of war. Military spokesperson Effie Defrin says he believes they have delivered a significant hit to Iran’s nuclear programme, and have delayed it by several years. Iranian lawmakers meanwhile voted in favour of suspending cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the International Atomic Energy Agency put its international credibility up for auction.

# Cricket: India’s coach, Gautam Gambhir, says there are a few areas they need to improve on before the second Test against England, starting at Edgbaston next Wednesday. The hosts’ opener, Ben Duckett, scored 149 in the second innings to help his team chase down 371 to win the first Test at Headingley by five wickets. India became the first team to lose a Test match with five batters scoring centuries. Gambhir says the manner of the defeat is disappointing:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-72-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 106-thousand-945-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-324-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….