News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA is going to challenge the police disciplinary findings on Phala Phala in court
# Minister Kubayi will ask president Ramaphosa to suspend Andrea Johnson
# And motorsport: Antonelli is in pole position in Belgium

# ActionSA has instructed its legal team to institute proceedings in the Pretoria High Court. The party is asking the Court to review and set aside police disciplinary findings relating to Wally Rhoode and Hennie Rekhoto, arising from their conduct during the investigation into the Phala Phala burglary. ActionSA chairperson Michael Beaumont says having carefully analysed the record of decision obtained through the Promotion of Access to Information Act, the disciplinary process raises serious questions regarding its rationality:

# Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says she will ask president Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head, Andrea Johnson. This follows testimonies by witnesses, making serious allegations on the conduct of IDAC officials and its head. Johnson will testify at the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday. Kubayi told SABC News the ministry will not interfere with the work of the Madlanga Commission and will announce any interventions when necessary:

# A joint meeting of four Parliament oversight committees called on the National Treasury and the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department to protect service delivery, especially for the indigent, amid corrective efforts in poorly performing municipalities. This followed the move by the Treasury to temporarily withhold the transfer of funds of 13.5-billion-rand to 69 non-compliant municipalities. Standing Committee on Finance chairperson, Mkhacani Maswanganyi, says while it is necessary to act against persistent financial misconduct and non-compliance, national and provincial governments must fulfil their support and intervention responsibilities as provided for in section 154 of the Constitution.

# Education activist Hendrick Makaneta is concerned about reports that more than four-thousand students are still waiting for final National Student Aid Scheme funding decisions, months after the academic year began. He says there can be no justification for administrative delays that leave students in prolonged uncertainty and place their education at risk. Makaneta says the revelation that some students have waited for as long as five months for their funding to be resolved is unacceptable:

# And finally, sports news:

# Soccer: Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said she would attend the World Cup final later today, at the ‌invitation of US President Donald Trump, along with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney. She says it is important that the host countries are involved, as a sign of the strong coordination and collaboration they have. Sheinbaum previously said she would not attend any game in a show of solidarity with regular Mexicans who could not afford tickets. The presence of Sheinbaum and Carney comes as Mexico and Canada seek to convince Trump to extend the trilateral North American trade agreement.

# And motorsport: Kimi Antonelli aims to start fast and have fun on Sunday as he bids to convert his sixth pole position of the season into victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. The 19-year-old Italian outpaced Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by three-tenths of a second. World champion Lando Norris of McLaren qualified third but will start 13th after a 10-place grid penalty. George Russell in the second Mercedes and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will now share the second row, with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren behind them.

Stay tuned for more news………….