News 17:00

BULLETIN 14 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Two freight associations are in partnership to strengthen South Africa’s freight sector
# King Misuzulu once again dismisses the traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi
# And soccer: Mbappé and Yamal headline the World Cup semi-final showdown

# The Road Freight Association and the South African Freight and Logistics Association signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation across the freight and logistics sector. It focuses on customs modernisation, border digitalisation, trade facilitation and reducing supply chain costs. The RFA’s CEO, Gavin Kelly, says the partnership will improve engagement with government and the Revenue Service while promoting a coordinated approach from the private sector to addressing industry challenges:

# The DA calls on Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni to deploy specialised police units to combat escalating gang violence across the province. The party’s Michael Sun says 258 people have been murdered and 408 survived attempted murders linked to gangsterism over the past four years. Sun criticised the Gauteng government for inadequate funding to fight gangs and call for intelligence-led policing, anti-gang investigations and the removal of illegal firearms:

# AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has again dismissed Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi as Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu Nation. In a statement issued today, the King said the decision was made in line with the appointment agreement signed in December 2025. Deputy Traditional Prime Minister Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza has been appointed as Buthelezi’s replacement with immediate effect. The King thanked Buthelezi for his service and called on the Royal House, amakhosi and the Zulu Nation to support Chiliza in his new role.

# The Kremlin says there can be no security guarantees ‌for Ukraine without Russia’s involvement. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to a statement by German chancellor Friedrich Merz that Moscow should play no part in shaping such arrangements, but the issue should ⁠be decided by Ukraine and its partners. Peskov says the comment clearly illustrated European governments’ position over the conflict. Ukraine says it needs guarantees from the West to protect it against future attacks by Moscow, who currently controls around a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

# Soccer: France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal will headline tonight’s World Cup semi-final in Dallas, Texas. It will be Yamal’s first and Mbappé’s third World Cup and the first time France and Spain meet in a semi-final in history. Their only previous tournament encounter was in the round of 16 in 2006. Spain has played two-semi-finals and France eight semi-finals. The winner will face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-814-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-78-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….