News 18:00

BULLETIN 18 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Mchunu awaits his chance to clear his name amid corruption allegations
# The ANC condemns foreign lobbying by a DA MP amid the US tariff tensions
# And rugby: Scotland thrashes Samoa to end their Pacific tour on a high

# Police minister Senzo Mchunu says he’s waiting to present his side before the commission of inquiry. President Cyril Ramaphosa placed him on special leave following corruption claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Speaking in Empangeni, Mchunu told SABC News that justice in South Africa cannot survive if one person acts as accuser, investigator, judge, and jury. He insists the truth can only emerge once all sides are heard:

# The ANC accuses the DA’s member of Parliament Emma Louise Powell of leading a misinformation campaign aimed at damaging South Africa’s reputation abroad amid the new US tariffs. According to the party, Powell lobbied US officials and pushed false claims such as white genocide and forced land expropriation to influence American policy against South Africa. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu also accuses Powell of targeting presidential envoy, former deputy Finance minister Mcebisi Jonas, in a smear campaign.

# The DA says without urgent reforms, South Africa’s prisons will remain hubs of gang violence and organised crime syndicates. This follow a recent raid at Pollsmoor prison in Cape Town which uncovered weapons, drugs, cellphones, cash, and other contraband. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says the scale of criminal activity behind bars proves that gangs are operating freely due to weak oversight:

Moving abroad:

# Russia downplayed the impact of fresh European Union sanctions on it’s economy, saying they were illegal and would backfire. The EU agreed its 18th package of sanctions on Russia over its military offensive on Ukraine, targeting Russian banks and lowering a price cap on oil exports. Russia has largely defied the West’s attempts to cripple its economy with sanctions. Officials have blasted the restrictions as breaching international law and touted Moscow’s effectiveness in getting round them.

# Rugby: Scotland thrashed Samoa 41-12 in Auckland, New Zealand, to end their Pacific tour on a winning note after last weekend’s disappointing loss to Fiji. The Scots scored two tries within the first 15 minutes and eventually outclassed the islanders seven tries to two. Scotland was missing several of its first-choice players who are doing duty for the British and Irish Lions while Tom Jordan and Jamie Ritchie were injured against Fiji. Scotland also beat the Maori All Blacks in the first match of the tour.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-70-cents and the euro at 20-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-257-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-354-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….