News 06:00

BULLETIN 4 August 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says growing investment in renewable energy is creating new opportunities
# COPE urges the IEC to expand voter registration at schools and universities
# And rugby: The Bok women gather for a training camp ahead of their Brazil tour

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s Just Energy Transition is gathering momentum, with clean energy investments being driven from abroad and by domestic firms. According to Statistics South Africa, renewable energy accounted for just two-percent of locally generated electricity in 2016. This figure increased to nine-percent in 2024. At this year’s South Africa Investment Conference, more than 50-billion-rand in green energy investment commitments were announced. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says attracting investment in clean energy is important for the country’s climate commitments, inclusive economic growth and job creation.

Meanwhile, Business Leadership South Africa has welcomed Ramaphosa’s endorsement of the first phase of Eskom’s restructuring plan, as the debate over an independent transmission system operator is over and implementation must now begin. In her weekly newsletter, the organisation’s CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said the reforms will help create a competitive electricity market, attract investment and improve energy security. Mavuso called for urgent action to tackle Eskom’s biggest financial challenge, municipal debt of 119-billion-rand.

# Congress of the People has called on the Electoral Commission to expand voter registration drives to schools, TVET colleges and universities to encourage more young people to register. The party’s Tom Mofokeng says the strong youth turnout during the recent registration weekend shows there is potential to boost participation ahead of the 4 November local government elections. Mofokeng also encouraged eligible voters to register or update their details before voter registration closes on Friday:

# Gauteng Education MEC, Lebogang Maile, has condemned the fatal shooting of an educator from Michael Zulu Primary School in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni. The teacher was gunned down while walking to school alongside a group of learners yesterday morning. The motive for the shooting remains unknown, and the police have launched an investigation. The MEC’s spokesperson, Onwabile Lubhelwana, says the loss of an educator is a profound tragedy, not only for the school but for society as a whole:

# US president Donald Trump has called Iranian leaders ‘unbelievably duplicitous’ after Tehran denied it was in negotiations with America. On Sunday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that a deal was close to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations would commence on Monday. Iran denied this, instead saying it was in talks with Oman to establish a safe, temporary route for vessels through the Strait. On Truth Social, Trump stated that the US blockade of Iranian ports will continue unless ‘a deal, or total surrender’ is accomplished.

# Rugby: Nine capped Springbok Women have been included in a squad of 30 players that assembled in Somerset West, Cape Town, for the first of two camps. The group is part of the Springbok Women Academy, where players not involved in the Test match squads are training together as part of the wider national squad. The Springbok Women ‘A’-squad of 26 players will depart for Brazil on the 20th. They will face their Brazilian counterparts in Brasilia and Sao Paulo on 24 and 29 August.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-453-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-53-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 87-dollars-31-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….