News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Emma Powell steps down from the DA’s international relations role in Parliament
# The Presidency reports major progress on state capture recommendations
# And Cricket: Jamie Overton is added to England’s squad for the final Test against India

# The DA has appointed Ryan Smith as its new parliamentary spokesperson on international relations following Emma Powell’s resignation from the role. Powell will remain a member of the parliamentary caucus, with a new portfolio to be announced soon. She says she was intimidated, threatened and illegally surveilled after she visited the US and was accused of spreading misinformation about South Africa. Powell She wrote on X that as a woman in politics, she understands viscerally the cost of standing up to bullies and the pressures that come with public life.

# The Presidency says good progress is being made in fighting state capture, with nearly half of the 60 planned actions now completed and eleven-billion-rand in stolen money recovered. However, former chief justice Raymond Zondo has warned that prosecutions are too slow, and public trust is at risk. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says a new anti-corruption unit has been set up, and major laws have been changed to stop future corruption:

# A manhunt is underway after a violent home invasion in Kameeldrift East, in Pretoria, in the early hours of this morning. Three suspects are on the run after breaking into a home and fatally shooting a man in the chest. The victim’s wife and three children were unharmed. The Community Police Forum urges residents to report any suspicious activity. This incident follows the murder of 82-year-old Mossie Mostert in Buffelsdrift last week.

# Namibia’s SWAPO Party leader, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has urged liberation movements in Southern Africa to resist external threats to their independence and achievements. She addressed the Liberation Movements Summit in Johannesburg. Nandi-Ndaitwah reminded fellow leaders that liberation is an ongoing process that requires sustained commitment, vigilance, and activism. She has called on liberation movements to commit to forming worldwide coalitions to strengthen their voice and combat exploitation:

# Cricket: Fast-bowling allrounder Jamie Overton was added to England’s squad for the fifth and final Test against India, starting at the Oval in London on Thursday. This follows after the hosts’ pace attack couldn’t bowl the visitors out on the final day of the fourth match at Old Trafford, leading to a draw. Captain Ben Stokes said afterwards they need fresh legs, but didn’t rule himself out for the final Test despite struggling with injuries. Overton played his only Test for England in 2022.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-86-cents and the euro at 20-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-980-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-335-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….