News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Matlala agrees to a plea deal with the state on the Medicare24 contract
# Israel calls for a probe into antisemitism and anti-Israel bias at the United Nations
# And soccer: Government congratulates Bafana Bafana on their historic victory at the World Cup

# Controversial businessman Vusimuzi Matlala has agreed to a plea and sentencing deal with the National Prosecuting Authority in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in connection with the police Medicare24 tender scandal. He has indicated he will plead guilty to fraud, corruption and money laundering linked to the multimillion-rand contract awarded to his company. The agreement, reached with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, is being considered by the court. Matlala’s case was yesterday separated from that of his co-accused, allowing the matter to proceed independently.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former National Treasury budget chief Michael Sachs as his new economic adviser. Sachs is expected to assume the role in the coming weeks, replacing former adviser Trudi Makhaya. The appointment comes as government intensifies efforts to boost economic growth and deepen reforms. Sachs previously headed the Treasury’s budget office and played a key role in shaping fiscal policy. His return is seen as strengthening economic policy expertise within the Presidency amid ongoing growth and unemployment challenges.

# City Power in Johannesburg has disconnected power to prominent private school Curro in Noordwyk after years of non-payment. This is part of a sweeping crackdown targeting high-value defaulters owing a combined 38.1-million-rand. City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, says the disconnection followed sustained non-payment of a 9.3-million-rand electricity account that had been accumulating since 2023. He says this action is part of a broader revenue protection operation:

News from abroad:

# Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has called for an investigation into what he calls anti-Israel bias at the UN. A commission found Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Danon says the investigation must look into how anti-Semitism is normalised, hate speech is excused, and false allegations are amplified:

# Soccer: Government has congratulated Bafana Bafana on advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history. South Africa defeated South Korea 1-0 to finish second in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, qualifying automatically for the last 32. Deputy government spokesperson, William Baloyi, says the victory reflects Bafana Bafana’s determination, discipline and fighting spirit on the global stage:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-54-cents and the euro at 18-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-631-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-990-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….