News 14:00

BULLETIN 26 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA meets after Ramaphosa fires deputy minister Whitfield
# Cabinet calls for calm and a de-escalation in the Israeli-Iranian conflict
# And rugby: Western Force picks six Wallabies in the starting team against the British and Irish Lions

# The chairperson of the DA’s Federal Council, Helen Zille has convened an urgent meeting of the party’s Federal Executive today, following president Cyril Ramaphosa’s actions around the composition of the national executive of the government of national unity. Ramaphosa fired Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister, Andrew Whitfield, who was part of a DA delegation that visited the US earlier this year.

Meanwhile, cabinet calls for calm and urgent de-escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, expressing deep concern over the loss of lives and destruction caused by recent hostilities. It urges all parties, including the US, to exercise restraint and fully comply with international law. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni warned against the destabilisation of Iran, citing long-term consequences for global peace and Africa:

 # A veteran labour lawyer, Micheal Bagraim, is proposing that the National Economic Development and Labour Council must lead the National Dialogue, rather than spending 700-million-rand on just another talk shop. Ramaphosa announced the national dialogue will commence in August to find collective solutions to the country’s various challenges. Bagraim says the reality is that solutions after discussions don’t necessarily translate into actions:

# Eastern Cape police has escalated its manhunt for suspects following the rape and murder of a 14-year-old learner in KwaMfula. Police spokesperson Namhla Mdleleni says the victim left for school last Friday, but did not return home. She says after a joint search operation by police and community members, her body was discovered in a collapsed structure near a forest on Sunday:

# Rugby: Western Force coach Simon Cron urged his team to step up and meet the moment when they face the British and Irish Lions after naming six Wallabies in his starting side. The tourists open their nine-game Australian itinerary in Perth on Saturday. They will face a side skippered by experienced scrum-half Nic White, who, along with Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain, were released from Australia’s training camp. Team-mates Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter were not and will miss the game.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 20-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-25-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-336-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-338-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-66-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….