News 16:00

BULLETIN 30 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet extends driver’s licence validity to ten years for some vehicles
# The US military says it hit several targets in Iran
# And rugby: The All Blacks invite local supporters to meet them in Cape Town tomorrow

# Cabinet has approved extending the validity of driver’s licences for light motor vehicles from five to ten years. The change applies to licence codes A, A1, B and EB, while heavy commercial and public transport vehicles will continue with existing two or five-year renewal cycles. Professional driving permits will also remain valid for two years. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the change aligns with international best practice:

# An advocate of the Investigating Directorate against Corruption, Drushanta Ramsamy,, has told the Madlanga commission weak internal controls make it easy to manipulate criminal dockets. She claims the system had been manipulated by former head Andrea Johnson and chief investigator Dylan Perumal. Ramsamy says prosecution-led investigations could be highly effective, but only if supported by robust oversight and accountability mechanisms:

# The DA in the Western Cape has expressed alarm that 67 incidents of burglary and vandalism were reported at 57 schools during the winter school holidays. Estimated damage amounts to more than 2.1-million-rand. The provincial Education Department has reported that School Nutrition Programme kitchens, computer rooms, electrical infrastructure, security equipment, donated school shoes and even vegetables from school gardens were stolen or vandalised. The DA’s Peter Johnson says schools have become targets for criminals:

Moving abroad:

# The US military says it struck dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard targets in ​Iran, including military command centres and drone facilities. This comes after Tehran fired ballistic missiles at American forces in the Middle East. The US Central Command says the strikes aimed to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighbouring Gulf countries. Jordan’s armed forces say they had thwarted an Iranian attempt to target the kingdom, intercepting five missiles.

# Rugby: Local All Black supporters will get the opportunity to welcome their heroes to South Africa in Cape Town tomorrow afternoon. The event will take place at the Cape Town Stadium, where New Zealand’s tour will start against the Stormers next Friday. The tourists posted on social media they will share their thoughts with fans, together with plenty of music and family-friendly fun. A huge number of fans are expected as the team has long enjoyed a unique following in the Mother City.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-58-cents and the euro at 19-rand-2-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-863-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-81-dollars-67-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-10-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….