News 13:00

BULLETIN 21 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Three Chapter 9 institutions launch an inquiry into the criminal justice system’s response to gender-based violence
# Strong harvests drive down fruit prices
# And soccer: Two-million fans celebrate Spain’s World Cup victory in Madrid

# Three Chapter 9 institutions have established a joint inquiry into the criminal justice system’s response to gender-based violence and femicide. The Commission for Gender Equality, the Human Rights Commission and the CRL Rights Commission seek to identify weaknesses in reporting, investigation and victim support. Commission for Gender Equality’s Javu Baloyi says the first phase will focus on survivors’ experiences and the functioning of the justice system before cases go to trial:

# Forum for South Africa has welcomed Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson’s decision to initiate an investigation into the six-thousand-238 state-owned residential properties allocated to government departments and occupied by officials. The department estimates 39.6-million-rand was spent from its day-to-day maintenance budget for only 108 of the properties during the previous financial year. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says every state-owned property must serve a clear public purpose:

# South African consumers are seeing lower prices for fresh produce, with fruit prices falling by 8.5-percent year-on-year in May. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Household Affordability Index shows orange prices dropped 21-percent month-on-month, along with bananas and avocados. Agricultural Business Chamber chief economist Wandile Sihlobo says strong harvests of fruits, vegetables and grains have boosted supplies, leading to lower prices. He says the increased yields have contributed to deflation in fruit and vegetable prices.

Moving abroad:

# Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have expressed concerns about the renewed hostilities between the US and Iran. Asian countries have been the hardest hit by Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for about 60-percent of the region’s energy supply. In a joint statement, ASEAN says the renewed fighting has further implications for the region’s trade, energy, and food security, particularly the stability of agricultural supply chains. They say the developments diminish the prospects for a peaceful resolution.

# Soccer: An estimated two-million fans attended newly-crowned world champions Spain’s celebrations in Madrid. The players paraded the trophy and their gold medals from an open-top bus for a sea of red and yellow-clad supporters before arriving at Cibeles square. The players and head coach Luis de le Fuente were then introduced one by one, each accompanied with his own choice of music, and wearing shirts with the slogan “We are the champions”. King Felipe and prime minister Pedro Sanchez met the squad before the parade kicked off.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-42-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-146-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-67-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….