News 18:00

BULLETIN 30 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party accuses Ramaphosa of politically selective action in response to Mkhwanazi’s claims
# Bail is denied to one accused in the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Phahlane
# And cricket: India withdraws from the World Championship of Legends semifinal against Pakistan

# The MK Party says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s response to allegations of political interference by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi reflects politically selective action. The party argued in the Constitutional Court that Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave shows he is shielding political allies. MK’s legal counsel, Anton Katz, told the court this amounts to unequal treatment, following the dismissal of former Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister Andrew Whitfield:

# The Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court has denied bail to one of three men accused of the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Phahlane during a hijacking in his Soshanguve home. Elia Moeko faces multiple charges, including murder and robbery. Prosecutors argued he poses a flight risk and had previous convictions. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Lumka Mahanjana confirmed that co-accused, Ali Sithole and Nido Gumbe, previously abandoned bail. She says the case was postponed to 10 September.

# Health ombud, Taole Mokoena, says psychiatric patients at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital died due to extreme cold caused by electricity failures. Releasing his report today, Mokoena blamed hypothermia, staff shortages, poor infrastructure, and lack of emergency equipment. The probe followed Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s complaint. Mokoena called conditions in Kimberley’s facilities dire, urging urgent reform and better oversight to prevent more preventable deaths:

Meanwhile, the Gauteng Health Department is rolling out new measures to curb nosocomial infections across public hospitals. MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says an Infection Prevention and Control committee is enforcing guidelines and monitoring compliance. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says six underperforming hospitals received enforcement letters. He notes that a new surveillance system tracks infection trends, and Antimicrobial Stewardship teams have been formed to prevent resistance:

# Cricket: India has reportedly withdrawn from tomorrow’s semifinal of the World Championship of Legends against Pakistan. This follows after India earlier also refused to play the neighbouring country in the group stage over the latest animosity between the arch enemies. The decision means Pakistan goes through to Saturday’s final at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England. The team awaits the winner of tomorrow’s semifinal between South Africa, led by former Proteas star AB de Villiers, and Australia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-812-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-305-dollars-88-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….