News 18:00

BULLETIN 6 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Service Commission flags weak accountability, governance and procurement failures at SITA
# Communications minister Solly Malatsi vows action after the PSC report
# And soccer: UEFA slams FIFA’s Balogun decision

# The Public Service Commission has found widespread governance failures, weak accountability and leadership instability at the State Information Technology Agency. This follows an investigation covering the period from 2020 to last year. The commission’s chairperson, Somadoda Fikeni, told the media the report, handed to Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi, highlights procurement weaknesses, poor consequence management and more than two-billion-rand in irregular expenditure flagged over four years:

# Malatsi meanwhile has pledged to act on the Public Service Commission’s findings. He told the media the commission’s recommendations will guide reforms at SITA to improve governance and restore confidence in the agency:

# The South African Electricity Traders Association says the timely finalisation of electricity market rules is essential to attract private investment and boost competition. The association says the draft market code has received broad support, but key issues still need to be resolved before the new wholesale electricity market can begin operating. The association’s James Beatty warns energy regulator, Nersa, that any further delays could slow renewable energy investment and affect long-term energy security.

# Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department official, Adrian McKenzie, and security boss, Etienne van der Walt, have been charged with six counts of fraud and robbery in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, linked to the 2023 theft of precious stones valued at about 14.9-million-rand. The case stems from allegations at the Madlanga Commission of a rogue police operation in Rosebank led by suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi. The gems were allegedly sold for 110-thousand-rand. The matter returns to court on 16 July for a bail application.

# Soccer: European governing body UEFA has lashed out at FIFA’s decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban in the World Cup after president Donald Trump asked ‌FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the case. UEFA says FIFA had crossed a red line and undermined the integrity of the game with an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision. Balogun was sent off during America’s victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. The decision ⁠has thrust FIFA’s disciplinary process into the spotlight and prompted angry responses.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-24-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-800-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-139-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….