News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Lesetja Senona’s legal representative raises fairness concerns at the Madlanga commission
# AfriForum urges landowners to prepare for a severe wildfire season
# And rugby: Slipper returns from retirement to play for the Wallabies again

# KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona’s legal counsel, Dali Mpofu, has raised concerns about what they describe as unfair treatment by the Madlanga commission. He argues his client had repeatedly been denied access to information needed to respond to allegations and had to testify multiple times on issues previously addressed. Mpofu questioned the relevance of some lines of inquiry, arguing the commission should remain focused on its mandate and terms of reference:

# Union federation Saftu says the withdrawal of the liquidation application against Tongaat Hulett has averted a devastating blow to small-scale growers, rural communities and the broader sugar value chain. Business rescue practitioners, the Industrial Development Corporation, and the Vision Group concluded a binding tripartite agreement, protecting 250-thousand jobs. Saftu’s general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, says South Africa cannot build an inclusive economy while allowing strategic productive sectors to collapse:

# AfriForum says landowners, farmers and communities should prepare for a potentially severe winter wildfire season. This follows a National Disaster Management Centre outlook showing high fire risk in parts of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West due to hot, dry and windy conditions. AfriForum’s Tarien Cooks says above-normal temperatures, strong winds, dense vegetation and possible El Niño conditions could increase the risk of fast-spreading wildfires:

Moving abroad:

# An Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack at Niger’s largest airport. Thirty-five people were killed when gunmen opened fire at the Diori Hamani International Airport and military base in the capital of Niamey. The airport and military airbase ‌are in the same complex. The fatalities comprised 22 assailants, 11 soldiers, and two civilians. This is the second attack on the airport this year after 20 attackers were killed and four military personnel were injured in January.

# Rugby: Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt confirmed veteran prop James Slipper reversed his retirement, and included him in the squad for next month’s Nations Championship Tests against Ireland, France and Italy. The 37-year-old retired in October after a record 151 Tests for Australlia, but Schmidt asked him to return because of a front-row injury crisis. Schmidt also picked loosehead Angus Bell after a sabbatical with Ulster in Ireland, and included uncapped Declan Meredith, Lachlan Shaw and Miles Amatosero.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 18-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-382-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-166-dollars-87-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….