News 17:00

BULLETIN 6 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Solly Malatsi vows action after a Public Service Commission report exposes systemic failures at SITA
# RISE Mzansi urges urgent police vetting
# And soccer: Iberian neighbours Spain and Portugal face off in a World Cup clash tonight

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi has pledged to act on the Public Service Commission’s findings of systemic failures at the State Information Technology Agency. The report highlights governance weaknesses, procurement delays, poor record-keeping and weak accountability. Malatsi told the media the commission’s recommendations will guide reforms at SITA to improve governance and restore confidence in the agency:

# The Madlanga Commission has heard evidence alleging that SAPS Crime Intelligence official Feroz Khan and businessman Ismail Vally allegedly tried to influence a 2021 auto parts tender. Evidence leader Adila Hassim said WhatsApp messages suggest attempts to meet then Acting Chief Procurement Officer at National Treasury, Molefe Fani, during the bid process, raising concerns about possible interference. Commissioner Sandile Khumalo questioned whether procurement rules and disclosure requirements were properly followed:

# RISE Mzansi Member of Parliament Makashule Gana is calling for urgent lifestyle audits and stronger vetting of police officers, following revelations of alleged corruption within the SAPS. Speaking on the first anniversary of allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Gana expressed concerns following alleged links of some officers to criminal networks and supply chain corruption. He has urged faster implementation of accountability measures to restore public trust:

#  US president Donald Trump appeared to reignite his dispute with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, posting a picture of her on Truth Social with the caption “restraining order needed”. Meloni recently accused him of fabricating a story after he told an Italian TV channel she had begged him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit in France. Meloni was once a vocal supporter of Trump, but criticised him this year for lashing out at Pope Leo over his ⁠condemnation of the Iranian conflict.

# Soccer: A clash of steal is expected in Dallas in the US tonight when Iberian neighbours Spain and Portugal face off in the World Cup’s round of 16. Both countries were unbeaten in the group stage before Portugal beat Croatia in the round of 32, and Spain saw off the challenge of Austria. The other remaining matches in the round are between America and Belgium, defending champion Argentina and Egypt, and Switzerland and Colombia. Norway and England are already through to the quarterfinals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-68-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-533-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-140-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….