News 18:00

BULLETIN 18 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party criticises the DA’s Emma Powell’s foreign affairs record as a disaster
# Business Leadership SA commends Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet shake-up as a step toward integrity
# And swimming: Pieter Coetzé qualifies for the 100-meter backstroke final at the World Champs

# The GOOD Party has welcomed the resignation of the DA’s spokesperson on international affairs, Emma Powell, describing her tenure as disastrous for South Africa’s foreign policy. The party accuses Powell of misrepresenting the country’s transformation agenda during overseas trips, including to Israel and the US. GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron says her actions damaged relations with the US administration and exposed the DA’s embarrassing attempts to play both government and opposition:

# Business Leadership South Africa has welcomed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent cabinet changes as a positive step towards restoring integrity in government. The organisation says the removal of ministers facing allegations of misconduct sends a strong message about prioritising ethical leadership. In her weekly newsletter, CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says the actions and recent high-profile arrests signal a shift toward stronger governance and the rule of law, which are vital for investor confidence and economic recovery.

# Former president Thabo Mbeki and ex-Justice minister Brigitte Mabandla have approached the High Court in Pretoria to intervene in a landmark 167-million-rand constitutional damages case. The lawsuit, brought by 25 survivors and families of apartheid-era victims, challenges the state’s failure to prosecute cases referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Representing them, senior advocate Ngwako Maenetje argues Mbeki and Mabandla did not interfere with, or suppress prosecutions, denying any political interference:

Moving abroad:

# Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders agreed to an unconditional ceasefire after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 36 people. Nearly 300-thousand people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia’s French colonial administrators in 1907.

# Swimming: South Africa’s Pieter Coetzé finished second in his semifinal heat of the 100-meter backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. He qualified for tomorrow’s final with the third fastest time. Earlier Catherine van Rensburg conquered the grueling women’s one-thousand-500-meter freestyle to finish 26th overall. Matthew Sates finished 32nd overall in the men’s 200-meter freestyle.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-88-cents and the euro at 20-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-259-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-309-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….