News 17:00

BULLETIN 25 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC announces Zizi Kodwa’s immediate resignation from the National Assembly 
# The City of Johannesburg secures a 2.5-billion-rand loan
# And, Olympic Games: Nadal and Djokovic are on a collision course in the second round

# The ANC has announced the immediate resignation of former Sports minister Zizi Kodwa from the National Assembly amid corruption accusations. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula confirmed his resignation letter had been received and accepted, and he extended the party’s best wishes. Kodwa faces corruption charges for allegedly receiving 1.68-million-rand from businessman Jehan Mackay in exchange for an IT software tender. They are currently out on 30-thousand-rand bail each, with the case set to return to court on the 21st of next month. 

# The City of Johannesburg has secured a 2.5-billion-rand loan from the French Development Agency. The loan was blocked by the EFF earlier this month after mayoral committee member for Finance, Dada Morero, didn’t provide key details on what it was for, and the conditions. It was now approved with support from the EFF, the ANC and several other parties, including the DA which was previously concerned about the financial implications. It is part of the 2023/’24 budget to support capital expenditure, and will be repaid over 15-years.  

In another development OUTA has called on Johannesburg’s political leadership to appoint competent leaders amid calls for mayor Kabelo Gwamanda’s resignation by the Joburg Crisis Alliance. CEO Wayne Duvenage emphasises the need for proper leadership to collaborate with civil society groups to tackle issues like corruption, maladministration, and wasteful expenditure. He encourages residents to demand change for a better future:

# Olympic Games: Grand Slam record-breakers Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain were placed on a second-round collision course in the tennis draw for Paris. Nadal, a singles gold medallist at the 2008 Olympics, is playing in his final Games, having also won doubles gold in Rio in 2016 while Djokovic was a bronze medallist in singles in 2008. Djokovic begins his campaign against Australia’s Matthew Ebden. Nadal, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slams on the clay of Roland Garros, faces Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-and-42-dollars-99-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-374-dollars-11-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

# And finally, former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane says soccer is a powerful tool for change and a platform to educate and inspire the next generation. He was conferred with an honorary doctoral degree by the University of Johannesburg. The institution recognised Mosimane’s outstanding contributions to sports, his exemplary leadership, and his unwavering commitment to social upliftment. Mosimane, who also coached Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, says he is deeply honoured to be recognised in this way:

Stay tuned for more news………….