News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa’s inflation rate falls to 4.3-percent
# Ramaphosa objects to Madonsela’s appointment as the impeachment committee’s evidence leader
# And soccer: Spanish captain Rodri returns home to Barca

#  Statistics South Africa has announced that annual consumer price inflation has eased to 4.3-percent last month, down from five-percent in June. The latest figure marks a moderation in price pressures, while consumer prices increased by 0.2-percent month-on-month. The decline in annual inflation brings price growth closer to the midpoint of the South African Reserve Bank’s target range. The data will be closely watched by policymakers when assessing future interest-rate decisions.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally objected to the appointment of Thandazani Madonsela as evidence leader for Parliament’s Section 89 impeachment committee. In a letter, he says Madonsela is conflicted, citing his removal as his Judicial Service Commission appointee in 2022 and legal advice given to the ANC caucus. The committee voted two weeks ago to recommend Madonsela, with nine votes for him and seven for DA candidate Kate Hofmeyr. Chairperson Makashule Gana says the committee is studying the objection and will respond.

# National Coloured Congress leader and Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams has told the Madlanga commission he genuinely forgot correspondence sent to him. He apologised, saying his demanding schedule as a political party leader contributed to the oversight. Adams described working long hours addressing problems across the Cape Flats. He says email was not his strongest point and insisted to chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga he was not lying to the commission:

# Prime minister Andy Burnham says the UK will continue providing support to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s aggression. Moscow’s UK embassy has accused Britain of deliberately opting for an escalation of the crisis, saying the deeper its involvement, the higher the price it will pay. This follows after British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes on Moscow. Burnham says the UK will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need:

# Soccer: World champion Spain’s captain, Rodri, will play for Spanish giant Barcelona until 2030 after his transfer from English club Manchester City was confirmed. The 30-year-old reportedly signed a contract worth 1.4-billion-rand. Rodri, who won the World Cup’s golden ball award as the best player, played 196 matches for City since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2019. He earlier played for another Spanish club, Villarreal. Rodri joins other big names such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo at Camp Nou.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-339-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-355-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….