News 17:00

BULLETIN 24 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA moves to uncover the lotto bid committee names in the Mashatile link probe
# Ramaphosa welcomes the BMW X3 plug-in hybrid production in South Africa
# And cricket: Lord’s will host a women’s Test for the first time next year

# The DA says it will file a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to uncover the names of officials involved in awarding the fourth national lottery licence, amid concerns of a link to deputy president Paul Mashatile’s family. This follows after Trade, Industry and Competition minister Parks Tau refused to disclose them to Parliament. The DA’s Toby Chance wants Tau to appear before Parliament to account for his handling of the 60-billion-rand licence:

Meanwhile, EFF member of Parliament, Sihle Lonzi, has warned newly appointed Higher Education and Training minister, Buti Manamela, to choose between serving corrupt ANC and Communist Party comrades or standing with South Africans. Speaking during the budget debate, Lonzi urged Manamela to fight student debt, clean up NSFAS and SETA corruption, and uplift the TVET sector:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the launch of the new BMW X3 plug-in hybrid at the Rosslyn plant in Pretoria marks a major milestone for South Africa’s green mobility drive and industrial growth. In his keynote address, Ramaphosa praised BMW’s continued investment, including its efforts in skills training and youth employment. He added that the shift to electric vehicles supports the government’s goals for a low-carbon economy and local beneficiation of critical minerals:

# The state has concluded its case in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial in the High Court in Pretoria – nearly eleven-years after the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain and goalkeeper was shot at his girlfriend singer Kelly Khumalo’s home in Vosloorus, Gauteng. After three years of presenting evidence against the five accused, the prosecution has wrapped up its case. The trial resumed under Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng in July 2023 after he took over from Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela. The defence will now present its case and call witnesses.

# Cricket: Lord’s will host a women’s Test for the first time next year when England plays India at the London ground. The date for the historic fixture was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board as part of the 2026 home schedule for the men’s and the women’s teams. England’s women’s last home Test in 2023 ended in defeat to Australia at Trent Bridge, played over five days. The game against India will revert to the usual women’s format of four days, starting on 10 July.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-761-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-357-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….