News 16:00

BULLETIN 26 June 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says president Cyril Ramaphosa must fire all 42 deputy ministers, not just one
# Cold and wet weather persists across the Western Cape
# And rugby: Peter O’Mahony will lead the Barbarians against the Boks

# ActionSA says president Cyril Ramaphosa must fire all 42 deputy ministers, not just one. This follows Ramaphosa’s removal of the DA’s Andrew Whitfield from his role as deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Action SA argues the president missed a crucial opportunity to remove ministers linked to corruption or poor performance, including Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Nobuhle Nkabane and Thembi Simelane. Spokesperson Athol Trollip says the current cabinet is bloated and ineffective.

Meanwhile, cabinet says the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter serves as a reminder of South Africa’s long struggle for a free, equal, and just society. The charter, which was adopted in Kliptown, Soweto, on 26 June 1955, laid the foundation for the country’s democracy. Minister Ntshavheni told the media the document still guides efforts to tackle inequality and promote human rights:

# Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, says disaster teams remain on high alert as cold and wet weather continues across the province. Bredell says flood-prone areas remain at risk, as Level 4 warnings for damaging waves and Level 2 alerts for rain and wind stay in effect. Director Disaster Operations, Sonja Chinnian, urges residents to stay indoors and follow safety guidelines:

# Rugby: Irish legend Peter O’Mahony will captain the Barbarians in his final outing in Saturday’s match against the Springboks in Cape Town. He is joined in the back row by former All Black captain Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell. Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden is partnered with England’s David Ribbans, and scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow partners Josh Jacomb at half-back. New Zealanders Peter Umaga-Jensen and Leicester Fainga’anuku line up in the midfield, with fellow Kiwis Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins and Mark Tele’a on the wings. France’s Malvyn Jaminet starts at fullback.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-76-cents and the euro at 20-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-261-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-341-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The UK-based charity The Donkey Sanctuary says almost six-million donkeys are slaughtered annually for Chinese medicine, with severe knock-on effects for African villagers who rely on the animals. It is driven by an increase in China’s production of a product marketed as a health supplement that uses collagen from donkey skins. China, whose donkey population has plummeted from 11-million in 1992 to 1.5-million in 2023, has turned to Africa to meet its demand. With donkey populations falling, the African Union issued a 15-year moratorium on donkey slaughter last year.

Stay tuned for more news………….