News 17:00

BULLETIN 2 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The UN declares the detention of two South African engineers in Equatorial Guinea unlawful
# The Road Freight Association calls on minister Barbara Creecy to address the issue of non-compliance
# And canoeing: Maher and Lovemore are the pair to beat at the 2024 Berg River Marathon

# The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has declared the imprisonment of two South African engineers in Equatorial Guinea unlawful, urging their immediate release. Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham have been detained since February last year on fabricated charges amid a diplomatic dispute over seized assets linked to vice president Teodore Nguema Obiang Mangue. The families’ spokesperson, Shaun Murphy, urges swift action for their release, citing innocence and the absence of due legal process:

# The CEO of the Road Freight Association, Gavin Kelly, is calling on new minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to address the issue of non-compliance in the transport sector. Kelly says the sector is at a crisis in terms of various aspects of transport, both freight and passengers. He says its links to the global market are at such a stress point that it is crucial to have solid, enlightened and positive leadership:

# The City of Tshwane will pursue officials linked to the failed 2014 Tribe One Dinokeng music festival. Following a Daily Maverick investigation, a confidential report concluded that funds should be recovered from officials involved in irregular spending on projects and events totaling hundreds of millions of rand. The report, now approved by the council, implicates former mayor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and other city officials in a 60-million-rand investment that failed to deliver the promised economic benefits.

# Canoeing: A bunch of relatively young athletes will line up with the hope of starting a new era of domination at the 2024 Berg River Marathon in the Western Cape this week. The two paddlers to beat look like being last year’s runner-up, Jeremy Maher, and third-placed Thomas Lovemore. Veteran Hank McGregor last year notched up his 13th win. In the women’s race Stephanie von der Heyde and Bianca Beavitt should both be in with a chance. The event starts in Paarl tomorrow morning and will end in Velddrift on Saturday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-56-cents and the euro at 19-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-842-dollars-34-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-327-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-18-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Dear South Africa urges the public to participate in the newly released Biodiversity Management Plan for black and white rhinos. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment launched the plan to safeguard rhino populations from poaching and habitat loss. The plan includes strategies for sustainable conservation and community empowerment, crucial for biodiversity and national heritage. The organisation’s spokesperson, Nolu Maki, says public comments are sought until 18 July to finalise the plan.

Stay tuned for more news………….