News 15:00

BULLETIN 22 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula pleads not guilty in her corruption trial
# June’s inflation rate rises to a two-year high
# And AfriForum urges government to tackle the illegal number plate industry

# Former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering in the High Court in Pretoria at the start of her trial. The charges relate to alleged solicitation of 4.5-million-rand bribes from a contractor linked to Defence Force contracts during her tenure as Defence minister between 2014 and 2021. Mapisa-Nqakula denies receiving cash, while key witness, contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, is expected to testify after being granted indemnity.

# South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rose to five-percent in June, up from 4.5-percent in May – the highest since June 2024 when it stood at 5.1-percent. Statistics South Africa says transport, housing, and utilities were the main contributors to the increase. The higher inflation rate reflects rising costs faced by households and businesses. Stats SA’s Patrick Kelly says policymakers continue to monitor price pressures across the economy.

# Deputy Defence and Military Veterans minister Bantu Holomisa says public-private partnerships could help strengthen South Africa’s defence capabilities despite limited government funding. Speaking to the SABC amid the Defence Industry lekgotla in Pretoria, he said partnerships could support military housing, infrastructure, border security and equipment modernisation without compromising national security. Holomisa calls for innovative financing models, better use of defence-owned land and greater private sector investment:

# AfriForum says government must urgently crack down on crime in the number plate industry to stop the spread of counterfeit and cloned number plates. The organisation says weak law enforcement has made it easier for criminals to commit offences and avoid detection. AfriForum’s Louis Boshoff welcomed the decision to delay the rollout of Gauteng’s new number plate system until alleged wrongdoing in the industry has been addressed:

# Hockey: The GOOD Party says the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture must financially support South Africa’s players instead of spending millions on officials’ World Cup trips. The party’s National Youth Organiser, Kaden Arguile, says the South African Hockey Federation’s public appeal for donations is an embarrassment. He says every year, players are sent out with no financial backing while still being expected to represent the country with pride:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-24-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-117-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….