News 15:00

BULLETIN 17 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The US ambassador to South Africa has confidence in strong bilateral relations
# The SABC will defend the term “government of national unity” in court
# And golf: Two former champions are among the South Africans playing in the British Open from tomorrow

# United States ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, is confident in the strength of relations between the two countries despite tensions over South Africa’s ties with Russia and China. A South African delegation is set to visit the US to engage with lawmakers for a review of the relationship, as it could affect South Africa’s status in regards to the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. In a News24 interview, Brigety expressed optimism about rekindling bilateral ties: 

# The SABC will defend its use of the term ‘government of national unity’ against legal action by the MK Party. MK leader Jacob Zuma argues the term misleads the public and is unconstitutional. In response to a cease and desist letter from MK, SABC group executive Moshoeshoe Monare confirmed the public broadcaster’s stance, calling the allegations unwarranted and the complaint meritless. The High Court hearing is set for August.

# Israel kept up its air strikes on Gaza today after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to ramp up the pressure on Hamas as hopes fade for a US-announced ceasefire plan. Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, accused Israel of deliberately undermining negotiations for a truce and hostage release deal because it doesn’t not want to end the war. The Israeli military says it had carried out 25 strikes within 24 hours. It said its troops were also continuing precise, intelligence-based operational activity around the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

# Golf: Two former champions, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen, are among the South Africans who will tee off in the first round of the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland tomorrow. They will join compatriots such as Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Darren Fichardt and Dean Burmester in the oldest tournament in the world. Defending champion Brian Harman will tee off with American compatriot Sahith Theegala and Viktor Hovland of Norway. Three-time champion Tiger Woods of America is grouped with compatriots Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.  

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-19-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-808-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-467-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the Gauteng Department of Health will tomorrow embark on the second edition of its surgical marathon initiative on Nelson Mandela Day, aiming to fast-track surgeries across key specialities. MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko will oversee the initiative at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where over 120 surgeries are planned. The department’s Motalatale Modiba says this project aligns with the Mandela Day theme of combating poverty and inequality through collective action: 

Stay tuned for more news………….