News 14:00

BULLETIN 20 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Chief Justice praises the Constitutional Court’s impact on shaping South Africa’s legal system
# Rugby: Eben Etzebeth is excited to play for the Boks following his injury setbacks
# And South Africa’s iconic protea fights for survival amid climate change threats

# Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has praised the Constitutional Court’s pivotal role in shaping South Africa’s legal system over the past three decades. Speaking at the court’s 30th anniversary celebration in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Maya highlighted its impact in advancing constitutionalism, enforcing the rule of law, and protecting human rights. She said the court’s rulings, including ending the death penalty and upholding socio-economic rights, have transformed South Africa’s legal landscape:

# The Eastern Cape government has intensified the search for missing flood victims by deploying drone technology capable of scanning for human remains. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Xolile Williams told Newzroom Afrika the aim is to bring closure to families still searching for loved ones. He adds some families continue to report missing relatives, and province hopes the new system brings breakthroughs.

# The DA says Land and Rural Development minister, Mzwanele Nyhontso is enforcing racial classification regulations in property transfers without a legal or legislative definition of race. The DA’s Mlindi Nhanha says this is utterly flawed and South Africans cannot be forced to participate in racial self-classification under the threat of administrative sanction:

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth says he is fully fit and eager to play. The 33-year-old missed three months of the United Rugby Championship due to a concussion sustained in December, and then strained his hamstring during a Springbok alignment camp in March. A training injury also ruled him out of the Sharks’ URC semifinal against the Bulls. Etzebeth says, despite the injuries, his motivation is being able to put on the Bok jersey one more time:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-4-cents and the euro at 20-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-35-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-953-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-356-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

# And finally: South Africa’s iconic protea, including the King Protea, is relocating due to climate change. Nearly 200 varieties now thrive far from their native Cape habitats, where many species face extinction. Experts say rising temperatures, habitat loss, and altered fire cycles threaten South Africa’s national flower. Through innovation, some farmers grow proteas using minimal irrigation, aiming to preserve them. The King Protea is the country’s largest flower export, with more than ten-million stems sent abroad last year, worth close to 275-million-rand.

Stay tuned for more news………….