News 15:00

BULLETIN 25 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa unveils a 264-billion-rand infrastructure project pipeline
# The Mkhwanazi precious stones theft case is postponed
# And rugby: Deon Fourie could become the oldest Bok ever on Saturday

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says infrastructure is critical to economic growth and the integration of Southern Africa and the wider continent. He was speaking virtually at the fifth Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium in Cape Town. Ramaphosa says reliable roads, rail, ports, energy, water and digital networks are needed to support businesses and communities. He announced over 170 projects worth 264-billion-rand are expected to enter procurement over the next 12 to 18 months:

# Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has told the Madlanga commission his friendship with fellow businessman Hangwani Maumela began around 2015 through their shared passion for sports cars. Matlala says they frequently met at a restaurant and later developed business ties. He testified they pooled money to fulfil business opportunities, including requests for quotations. Matlala says their relationship was both personal and financial:

# The precious stones theft case against the suspended deputy chief of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, Julius Mkhwanazi, has been postponed to 18 September. Mkhwanazi, Kgomotso Makhubo, Adrian Mackenzie and Keisha Stols appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court this morning. They face charges of theft of precious stones worth 14-million-rand. Mkhwanazi allegedly masterminded a police raid in Killarney to steal the stones. The case was postponed to allow for the preparation and disclosure of the docket by the state to the defence.

# Rugby: Thirty-nine-year old utility forward Deon Fourie is set to become the oldest Springbok ever on Saturday after being included on the bench for the Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town. He made his international debut in 2022 and played his 13th and last Test at the next year’s World Cup. Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the 11th Bok to reach his 100th Test. If Siya Kolisi plays, it will be the most experienced Bok team ever, with a combined one-thousand-and-12 caps in the starting-15.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-99-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-205-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-640-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

# And finally: As South Africa marks Money Smart Week under the theme, Money Smart: The Power of Possible, independent digital credit provider Prime Loans says it’s critical that financial education goes beyond teaching consumers how to manage money. CEO Nita Morgan says the Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor 2026 shows the proportion of working South Africans borrowing from illegal lenders called mashonisas has increased from 12-percent to 19-percent over the past year:

Stay tuned for more news………….