News 07:00

BULLETIN 28 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau says South Africa will continue engagement with the US on the latest tariffs
# Andy Burnham says Ukraine can count on Britain’s support for as long as it takes
# And soccer: Banyana Banyana are stunned by Tanzania in their WAFCON opener

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says the government will continue to engage with the US over the 12.5-percent tariff imposed on South African exports. South Africa was one of 60 countries hit with tariffs following an investigation by the US Trade Representative, which found that the countries did not effectively enforce forced labour practices. Tau says government will publish a Gazette notice requesting public comments on the intent to issue a regulation to prohibit goods produced in whole or in part using forced labour and child labour.

# Business Leadership South Africa’s Reform Tracker’s quarterly update shows real progress in Home Affairs and public services; however, there are concerning reversals on electricity and logistics. The tracker has credited the Department of Home Affairs for progress on electronic visas, streamlining access for tourists and boosting visitor numbers. BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso says reversals in electricity include delays in finalising regulations for the South African wholesale electricity market. She adds that unbundling the grid and the rail network is the essential precondition for the investment the country needs.

# The DA in the Western Cape says police resolutions from last week’s minister and members of the executive council meeting mean nothing without real implementation. This comes as Cape Town reels from more bloodshed. Five people were shot dead in Gugulethu yesterday, days after three men were killed in a shooting in Khayelitsha. The DA’s Benedicta van Minnen says communities need action rather than promises to curb violent crime:

# British prime minister Andy Burnham says they will not back down until a long-lasting and just peace for Ukraine is achieved. He hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the Portsmouth Naval Base yesterday. The two leaders met with over 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have been part of a naval security operation in Britain. Burnham says Britain will give Ukraine the intellectual property behind its new “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system, which is capable of jamming Russian air defences to stop drones from being detected:

# Soccer: Defending champions Banyana Banyana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tanzania in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Group B opener in Casablanca, Morocco. Tanzania took the lead through Diana Msewa, but Bambanani Mbane equalised for South Africa at the end of the first half. Hasnath Ubamba secured the winner for the Tanzanians. Banyana Banyana now have an uphill battle to make the knockouts, with Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso still to come in the group. The four semifinalists will automatically qualify for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-79-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-139-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-44-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Lamb Champs has announced the launch of its first international invitational competition, with South Africa set to face Namibia in Pretoria on 31 October. The new head-to-head contest will feature teams of ten sheep farmers from each country and aims to grow Lamb Champs into an international platform celebrating premium lamb and agricultural excellence. Lamb Champs founder and Southern African Agri Initiative CEO Francois Rossouw says the event will showcase top farmers, strengthen regional rivalry, and promote the lamb industry on a bigger stage.

Stay tuned for more news………….