News 16:00

BULLETIN 7 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola urges greater public awareness of the Africa Free Trade Area
# A poll reveals the ANC support in Johannesburg has fallen to 18-percent
# And cricket: The Proteas and India’s Women will now also play a T20 series in December

# International Relations minister Ronald Lamola has called for greater public awareness of the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying only 13-percent of Africans know about the agreement despite strong support for regional trade. He was speaking in Johannesburg at the ambassadorial breakfast, which is focusing on strengthening economic diplomacy, trade and investment. Lamola said deeper integration must benefit ordinary citizens, not just political and business leaders. He also urged businesses to stop exploiting irregular migrants, warning the practice threatens Africa’s long-term economic growth and regional stability:

Minister Lamola also said South Africa has reached a major milestone in regional integration with Angola joining the cross-border payment system. Lamola says the initiative will boost intra-African trade. He adds the African Union’s Agenda 2063 requires stronger regional integration, and free movement of people and goods across the continent:

# The ANC’s support in Johannesburg has dropped to 18-percent in the Social Research Foundation’s latest opinion poll, highlighting mounting pressure ahead of November’s local government elections. The survey, conducted in partnership with The Common Sense, shows the DA polling at more than double the ANC’s support. The decline is linked to concerns over service delivery, the Phala Phala saga, the Madlanga commission, and illegal immigration. The poll also suggests no party is likely to secure an outright majority, making coalition negotiations increasingly likely.

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia’s willingness to consider granting metro police investigative powers is a positive step in the fight against crime. According to Hill-Lewis, expanding these powers would allow metro police to work more effectively with the South African Police Service to tackle gang violence, illegal firearms and drug-related crime. He urged Cachalia to amend the SAPS Act without delay:

# Cricket: The Indian Women’s visit to South Africa in December will now also include a T20 series against the Proteas. The tour starts with a Test in Gqeberha from the ninth. This will be followed by one-day matches in Potchefstroom on the 16th, Bloemfontein on the 19th and Cape Town on the 22nd. The three T20’s will be played in Benoni on the 26th, and in Potchefstroom on the 29th and the 30th. The T20s will be preparation for February’s Women’s Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-22-cents and the euro at 18-rand-70-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-92-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-302-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….