News 13:00

BULLETIN 28 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister George budgets 2.8-billion-rand to fund 70-thousand Green jobs
# A Head-on collision on the R23 in Mpumalanga claims six lives
# And the Botswana government and Bridgette Motsepe reach a court settlement

# Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Dion George says 2.8-billion-rand of the department’s nine-billion-rand medium-term budget will support environmental programmes, creating 70-thousand jobs. Addressing Parliament, George says nearly half of the budget goes to public works and conservation entities like the South African Parks. George says the revised Biodiversity Economy Strategy aims to unlock 127-billion-rand and 397-thousand jobs annually by 2036. Despite limited funding, he emphasised the department’s commitment to climate action, clean air, and sustainable job creation nationwide.

Meanwhile, EFF member of Parliament, Lilian Managa, has rejected the Environment Budget, accusing government of masking real-term cuts to vital environmental programmes. Addressing Parliament, Managa criticised a 15.1-percent rise in administrative costs while rural development, forestry, and waste management face underfunding. Managa demands a 260-million-rand shift from bureaucracy to community-driven, job-creating projects, warning that the working class should not bear the burden of environmental and economic injustice:

# ANC-linked tycoon Sello Sekhokho has landed lucrative tenders supplying toilet paper to state hospitals. The tenderpreneur is the subject of an active 2.3-billion-rand Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal investigation. According to News24, the contracts have sparked fresh concerns over procurement irregularities and political influence. Critics argue the deals underscore how corruption networks continue profiting from essential supplies amid strained public health systems. The Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks are now reportedly examining these recent tender awards.

# Six people died following a head-on collision involving a BMW and VW sedan last night, along the R23 between Greylingstad and Val in Mpumalanga. Reports indicate that all died at the scene. Five of the victims were men, and one woman. Authorities suspect reckless driving, speeding, and dangerous overtaking. Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, urges motorists to remain vigilant and obey road rules.

# Botswana’s government and businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe have reached a court settlement, ending the prolonged Butterfly case litigation. The settlement will be formalised by a High Court consent order, likely including an apology to Motsepe and dismissal of allegations of clandestine payments, fraud, and corruption. Renowned international lawyer, Cherie Blair, says Motsepe’s legal team will pursue a defamation case in South Africa against individuals involved in the matter:

# And tennis: British number and ranked 38th in the world, Emma Raducanu, has been drawn against teenage wildcard Mimi Xu in an eye-catching all-British first-round match at Wimbledon on Monday. 17-year-old Xu will make her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon – and will face British number one Raducanu, whom she describes as an “inspiration”, in the first round. Xu is ranked just outside the world’s top 300 and has earned two victories over top-100 players on the British grass this summer.

Stay tuned for more news………….