News 16:00

BULLETIN 11 June 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Mantashe amends the Draft Mining Bill to scrap BEE requirements for exploration activities
# The DA wants a probe into all ministerial board appointments
# And cricket: The Proteas take four Aussie wickets on the first morning at Lord’s

# Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has backtracked on a key clause in the Draft Mining Bill and removed requirements for black economic empowerment for exploration activities. This follows backlash from the mining industry, warning that such rules would scare off investment in the high-risk exploration sector. According to News24, Mantashe has also clarified that listed mining companies will not require ministerial approval for changes in control. The Minerals Council South Africa says several other provisions in the bill still threaten job creation and economic growth.

# The DA says Higher Education minister Nobuhle Nkabane’s Sector Education and Training Authority debacle highlights the need for enhanced parliamentary oversight over all ministerial board appointments. The minister withdrew the appointments of chairpersons of the SETA boards following a public outcry. The DA’s George Michalakis says they are today submiting written questions to all ministers, asking for details on the processes followed in every board appointment done by each minister:

# The legal team of Moroadi Cholota is considering their next move after the Free State High Court ruled her extradition from the US as unlawful. Cholota’s lawyer, Piet Tebane, says they are reviewing options to seek redress for the violation of her constitutional rights. Former Free State premier Ace Magashule’s personal assistant at the time, was to face charges linked to the multi-million-rand asbestos roof case. The court found the National Prosecuting Authority lacked jurisdiction, with only the Justice Department having the power for extraditions.

# The Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng has formally charged a 39-year-old man in connection with the murder and mutilation of 14-year-old Likhona Fose. Her body was found in a veld in Durban Deep earlier this month. Mduduzi Trevor Mnisi was questioned on Monday and arrested yesterday. Magistrate Annalene Afrika postponed the case to next Wednesday for further investigations. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane welcomed community efforts in the arrest:

# Cricket: The first session definitely belonged to South Africa in the final of the World Test championship against Australia at Lord’s in London. Captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and decided to bowl. Kagiso Rabada made the best of the overcast conditions when he took the wickets of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the seventh over. Marco Jansen then joined the party and got rid of South African-born opener Marnus Labuschagne as well as Travis Head. At lunchtime, Australia had 67 for four on the board.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-75-cents and the euro at 20-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-94-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-339-dollars-22-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….