News 17:00

BULLETIN 23 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Reserve Bank keeps the interest rates unchanged at seven-percent amid global uncertainty
# Mcebisi Jonas says immigrants are not to blame for South Africa’s economic woes
# And: A 70-year-old woman is arrested for the murder of a South African woman in a French village

# The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has kept the repo rate unchanged at seven-percent, citing ongoing inflation risks and global uncertainty linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Four members preferred a hold, while two favoured an increase of 25-basis points. Governor Lesetja Kganyago told the media inflation remains above the three-percent target, while economic growth is expected to slow in the coming months due to weaker consumer and business confidence:

# MTN chairperson Mcebisi Jonas says removing immigrants from South Africa does not solve the country’s economic challenges. Speaking on the sidelines of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s Winter Seminar, Jonas said unemployment, inequality and corruption are rooted in governance failures rather than migration. Jonas urged leaders to address structural economic problems instead of blaming foreign nationals. He warned that lasting solutions require stronger institutions, improved public services and inclusive economic growth.

# Solidarity Helping Hand says the government must urgently review the appointment of National Student Financial Aid Scheme administrator Hlengani Mathebula over concerns about leadership and accountability. Solidarity’s Gerhard Pretorius also questioned the appointment of Bojane Segooa to lead the scheme’s audit and risk committee while she is the subject of a pending investigation linked to 625-thousand-rand board fee payout at poultry company Daybreak Foods:

# A 70-year-old woman has been charged over the murder of a British-South African expat in rural France in April last year. Sixty-five-year-old Karen Carter had suffered eight serious stab wounds and was found outside her guest house in Trémolat in the Dordogne, where she had lived for over a decade. The suspect was originally taken into custody but released without charge. A subsequent judicial inquiry led the investigating judge formally charging her. The Dordogne is an area hugely popular with British tourists, second homeowners and expat pensioners.

# Rugby: Scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer will captain the Stormers-23 – formerly Western Province – in their Currie Cup Cape derby against Boland Kavaliers in Wellington on Sunday. There is just one change to the starting line-up. Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis has been ruled out with a knee injury, and is replaced with Dominique Malgas who impressed off the bench in last week’s victory over Griquas. Lock Gary Porter is back on the bench after a stint with the Zimbabwe Sables.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-106-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-61-dollars-4-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….