News 14:00

BULLETIN 15 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Action Society says Cyril Ramaphosa’s commission is a delaying tactic while South Africans continue to suffer 
# The G20 Climate Working Group discusses key priorities to tackle environmental crisis
# And cricket: Durban’s Super Giants keep Lance Klusener as their SA20 head coach

# Action Society says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of deep-rooted criminal collusion within the police is not a decisive intervention. This followed explosive allegations of corruption and criminal activities made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Spokesperson Kaylynn Palm says they are deeply concerned that the establishment of yet another commission will simply buy time for the political elite while the justice system continues to collapse around ordinary citizens:

# Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment minister Dion George says the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting at the Kruger National Park has identified key priorities to tackle environmental challenges. This includes reviewing technical papers on biodiversity, drought, land degradation, chemicals, climate change, air quality, and oceans. George says these align with Africa’s Agenda 2063. He warns of worsening poverty and pollution, urging urgent reforms:

# A veteran labour lawyer, Michael Bagraim is urging workers to not access their retirement monies until retirement. He says since Parliament passed the two-pot system into law in September last year, 57-billion-rand had been paid to more than 3.5-million workers. Bargraim says the system means people could take a certain amount of money out of their pension or provident funds without having to resign:

# Cricket: Durban’s Super Giants announced that Lance Klusener will return as head coach for the upcoming SA20 season, marking his fourth consecutive year leading the franchise. Klusener is a respected figure in global cricket and one of South Africa’s most celebrated all-rounders. Under his guidance, the team reached the finals in Season 2, and although Season 3 was a challenging campaign, the franchise remains committed to its long-term vision of building a title-winning unit. The player auction for the fourth edition is set for 9 September.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-79-cents and the euro at 20-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-850-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-365-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-39-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The University of Pretoria says as the world commemorates Mandela Month, this is an opportune time to throw a renewed spotlight onto the silent crisis of food insecurity at South African universities. At universities across the country, levels of food insecurity range from eleven to 38-percent. UP’s director of Student Affairs, Kgadi Mathabathe, says those facing a degree of food insecurity and lack of adequate nutrition, deepen the cycle of inequality, especially among African and first-generation students. She adds that food insecurity impacts mental health, concentration and attendance.

Stay tuned for more news………….