News 17:00

BULLETIN 13 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa commends the quick forensic response for a dignified handling of Eastern Cape flood victims
# Global airlines cancel or reroute flights after Israel’s attack on Iran
# And rugby: Two Blitzboks stars join the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ squad for the Africa Cup

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended forensic teams for their swift response in the aftermath of deadly floods in the Eastern Cape. Speaking during a visit to Mthatha, where at least 78 people have died, Ramaphosa said he received encouraging reports about how the remains of flood victims were handled and returned to families in a dignified manner. He praised the swift response by government officials and humanitarian groups like Gift of the Givers:

# The chief financial official of the policel’s Crime Intelligence Division, Philani Lushaba, has been arrested following a scandal involving a sex worker who allegedly stole his state firearm and laptop in 2022. Two other senior crime intelligence officers were arrested for allegedly assisting in covering the burglary. Lushaba, who surrendered in Pretoria today, also faces an investigation in a separate 81-million-rand property scandal linked to irregular spending on properties. It was previously reported that he vanished as the National Prosecuting Authority prepared to question him.

# Global airlines cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and other Middle East destinations, or rerouted planes, as air spaces shut following Israeli strikes on Iran. Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their air spaces after Israel hit military and nuclear facilities in Iran. Israel said Tehran launched drones in retaliation. The Middle East’s largest airline, Emirates, said it had cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran after Israel launched the strikes. Qatar Airways said it had temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq.

# Rugby: Two Blitzboks Sevens world champions, Ricardo Duarttee and Mfundo Ndhlovu, will headline the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ squad for the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup in Mauritius next weekend. Both scored in the Blitzboks’ World Series final victory over Spain. They’re joined by capped teammates Sebastiaan Jobb and Masande Mtshali. The team departs today. Coach Philip Snyman says this outing is crucial for squad growth and depth:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-3-cents and the euro at 20-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-38-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-796-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-441-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-37-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Discovery Bank has warned clients about rising scams in South Africa involving criminals impersonating teams fighting fraud. Victims are pressured into revealing card details under the pretext of stopping suspicious transactions. The bank urged users to never share card information and to switch to safer options like virtual cards. A recent survey showed over 60-percent of high earners are more concerned about digital fraud, with millions already lost. Card-not-present fraud has risen by 18.4-percent.

Stay tuned for more news………….