News 18:00

BULLETIN 19 June 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA demands the suspension of the National Director of Public Prosecutions and a justice system reform
# Another setback for Elon Musk’s Starships as one explodes in Texas
# And rugby: Scotland’s captain extends his contract with Bath to 2028

# ActionSA’s Athol Trollip has called for the suspension of National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, citing systemic dysfunction in the National Prosecuting Authority. ActionSA handed over a memorandum to Justice minister Mmamoloko Kubayi in Pretoria, urging president Cyril Ramaphosa to act. Trollip says failed prosecutions and inaction on high-profile cases show the NPA has lost public trust:

The NPA will meanwhile resubmit an extradition request for the Gupta brothers to the United Arab Emirates. Speaking in Parliament, Head of the Investigating Directorate, Andrea Johnson, confirmed 12 unanswered diplomatic notes. Despite prior vetting, the UAE asked for a fresh application. Johnson told Parliament that additional charges will be included. Thus far, only 83 convictions have been secured by the NPA of three-thousand Special Investigating Unit-referred corruption cases:

# The City of Cape Town says the Corporate Services Directorate will receive expert support from Finland on how to apply evidence and data analytics for long-term planning and decision making. The directorate manages a portfolio of facilities including 159 city buildings, 11 municipal courts and 38 early childhood development centres. Mayoral committee member for Corporate Services, Theresa Uys, says the metro is working towards optimising and rationalising its asset portfolio for greater synergy and cost savings:

# One of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas in the latest setback to the billionaire’s dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species. A video showed the megarocket attached to the launch arm and then a flash and a towering, fiery explosion. Musk’s Space X says the rocket was preparing for the tenth flight test when it experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase, without elaborating on the nature of the complication.

# Rugby: Scottish and British and Irish Lions flyhalf Finn Russell has extended his contract with Premiership champions Bath until the middle of 2028. He joined the English club, coached by South African Johann van Graan, in 2023 on a three-year deal and scored 420 points in 45 matches. Russell describes Bath as a great team and club, and says he is looking forward to staying there and see what can be achieved in future. Van Graan regards him as one of the world’s best number tens.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-8-cents and the euro at 20-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-608-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-364-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….