News 18:00

BULLETIN 21 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Solidarity welcomes FlySafair’s reluctant return to the negotiation table
# DIRCO rebukes a Times of Israel journalist over alleged reckless reporting
# And rugby: Riley Norton says cricket sharpened his leadership to win the Under-20 World Championship

# Trade union Solidarity says FlySafair has finally agreed to mediation by the Commission for Conciliatin, Mediation and Arbitration, but only after public pressure and the threat of an extended pilot strike. Nearly 90-percent of FlySafair’s pilots earlier signaled their readiness to strike, and the airline responded with a planned seven-day lockout. Solidarity’s Helgard Cronjé accused FlySafair of delaying talks, with negotiations only set to start on Wednesday. Cronjé calls for urgent solutions to protect both workers and passengers. FlySafair cancelled several domestic flights. 

# The Department of International Relations has criticised Times of Israel journalist Paula Slier for allegedly spreading reckless and unverified claims that South Africa supported Hamas before the October 7 attacks on Israel. In an open letter, department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri condemned Slier for amplifying the statements of a self-proclaimed lobbyist, Justin Lewis, despite a lack of evidence. Phiri warns that such reporting fuels conspiracy theories, undermining ethical journalism and fuelling misinformation.

# EFF leader Julius Malema has slammed MK Party leader Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to Morocco, calling it a complete sellout position. Zuma met Moroccan Foreign minister Nasser Bourita last week, allegedly to endorse Morocco’s Sahara autonomy initiative. Speaking outside the East London Magistrate’s Court, Malema criticised Zuma’s stance, reaffirmed support for Sahrawi independence, and accused the MK Party of betraying the liberation struggle with its policy shift:

# Russia has showcased what it calls the biggest drone factory in the world, broadcasting rare footage from inside a plant assembling the deadly attack drones it fires at Ukraine on a daily basis. The video, published by a TV channel owned by the Russian Defence ministry, Zvezda, showed workers with their faces blurred assembling jet-black triangle-shaped attack drones. Russia’s Geran drones are based on the Iranian Shahed drones, which Tehran has also supplied to Moscow to support its offensive.

# Rugby: Junior Boks captain Riley Norton says his cricket background shaped his leadership skills in rugby, contributing to South Africa’s Under-20 World Championship win. Speaking at OR Tambo International Airport, Norton said cricket taught him lessons he carried into rugby captaincy. He described winning the title as the greatest day of his life and praised the team’s unity, the coaching staff, and support from South Africans:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-88-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-395-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….