News 13:00

BULLETIN 2 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Accuser Mengo’s legal team is barred from cross-examining Eastern Cape Judge President Mbenenge
# Minister Creecy says her department is fast-tracking projects to ensure the reliable availability of jet fuel
# And the Dalai Lama vows he won’t be the last leader of Tibetan Buddhism

# The Judicial Conduct Tribunal has ruled that the legal team of the secretary that accuses Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge of coercing her into engaging in sexually explicit messages, Andiswa Mengo, will not cross-examine him or his witnesses. Tribunal chairperson, retired judge president Bernard Ngoepe, stated that, under the Judicial Service Commission Act and tribunal rules, such cross-examination is not permitted. He says however, Mengo’s team may consult the evidence leader during cross-examinations:

# Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy says the Airports Company South Africa has allocated 21.7-billion-rand for infrastructure development. She says this will improve facilities for passenger safety and comfort over the medium term and build a new freight terminal at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. The minister says her department is fast-tracking projects to ensure reliable availability of jet fuel to all airlines at all South Africa’s airports:

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has extended the deadline for submissions on the discussion document regarding the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. The new deadline for submissions is now the 31st of this month. This decision follows heightened interest from stakeholders across the country and numerous requests for additional time to prepare and submit input. Hlabisa says the ministry recognises the importance of inclusive participation in shaping a responsive and effective system of local governance.

# The Dalai Lama has announced he will have a successor after his death, continuing a centuries-old tradition that has become a flashpoint in the struggle with China’s Communist Party over Tibet’s future. The Nobel Peace laureate has been living in India since fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese communist rule in 1959. The announcement days before the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday sets the stage for a high stakes battle over his succession, between Tibetan leaders in exile and China’s atheist Communist Party.

# Cricket: The coach of the England Lions, Andrew Flintoff, says he has no desire to succeed Brendon McCullum as head coach of the national team. McCullum’s contract will expire after 2027’s World Cup in Southern Africa, and Flintoff had been linked with the position should the New Zealander decide not to stay on. The former England captain scored over seven-thousand runs and took 400 wickets in all formats for his country. Flintoff says he admires McCullum, who he describes as the country’s best coach ever.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-67-cents and the euro at 20-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-726-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-338-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….