News 17:00

BULLETIN 7 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Major-General Feroz Khan allegedly assisted in drafting parliamentary questions for Julius Malema
# Healthcare systems across Southern Africa are under unprecedented pressure
# And: and explosions injure 18 in Damascus during Emmanuel Macron’s visit

# The Madlanga commission has heard police Major-General Feroz Khan allegedly drafted parliamentary questions for EFF leader Julius Malema. Evidence leader Michael Chaskalson revealed that Khan sent the questions through businessman Mohammed Sayed, aimed to challenge the credibility of former inspector-general of Intelligence Setlhomamaru Dintwe. He also revealed questions targeting former Police minister Bheki Cele over links to convicted drug dealer Timmy Marimuthu, and read out the questions:

# The City of Cape Town says its 868-million-rand economic growth budget for the 2026/2027 financial year will support programmes aimed at attracting investment, growing businesses and creating jobs. Mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says the funding will also be used to boost tourism, support entrepreneurs, improve skills development, reduce red tape and strengthen Cape Town’s position as a leading investment destination:

# The Board of Healthcare Funders says healthcare systems across Southern Africa are under unprecedented pressure, primarily driven by dwindling budgets, severe understaffing and the rising burden of diseases. According to the Special Investigating Unit, an estimated 15-percent of healthcare spending is compromised by fraud, waste and abuse, costing the sector close to 30-billion-rand. Board of Healthcare Funders’ Leonard Lekgetho says common abuses identified include procurement irregularities, counterfeit medicines, price-fixing and fraudulent billing through duplicate claims and over-servicing:

# Eighteen people have been injured after explosive devices went off in Damascus near the hotel where French president Emmanuel Macron had been staying in the Syrian capital. State news agency Sana reports two devices detected by security forces exploded as specialised units began to defuse them. Macron arrived last night, becoming the first European Union leader to visit Syria since al-Sharaa came to power in 2024. It is a trip that underlines Syria’s return to the global stage following years of international isolation.

# Cricket: England named an unchanged team for today’s third T20 against India at Trent Bridge. The opener in Chester-le-Street rained out, and the hosts won Saturday’s second encounter at Old Trafford by four wickets after Jacob Bethel contributed an undefeated 76 off just 46 balls. That meant Indian wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s international career started with a loss. He could only score 14 runs. After today, the penultimate match will be played in Bristol on Thursday, and the final one in Southampton on Saturday.  

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-25-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-422-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-167-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-71-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….