News 12:00

BULLETIN 27 June 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa alters the Cabinet offer to the DA and replaces a key ministry
# The mining industry has lost around 130-thousand jobs over the last 30-years
# And Soccer: Lionel Messi may have to disappoint his fans

# Negotiations between the ANC and the DA are heading for a confrontation after President Cyril Ramaphosa changed the terms of an earlier offer to the party. News24 reports the DA will still get six Cabinet seats, but an important ministry has now been taken off the list and replaced with one that has almost no budget and, by comparison, very little social or economic impact. The news service says the ANC sees the offer as a final chance for the DA to join the government. Ramaphosa told DA leader John Steenhuisen to decide about the offer by Sunday.

# The Minerals Council says the mining industry has lost around 130-thousand jobs over the last 30 years. Mineral exports fell by 100-billion-rand in 2023 compared to 2022, and mineral royalties dropped from 25-billion-rand to 14-billion-rand. CEO Mzila Mthenjane says infrastructure constraints are a key factor in the declining mining output. He stressed exploration should be revitalised for the industry’s sustainability and economic contribution.

# ActionSA in Tshwane welcomes the city’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee passing several reports addressing irregular expenditures and its decision to recover millions from corrupt officials. ActionSA’s Tshepiso Modiba says the reports passed on Tuesday highlighted funds being spent without proper authorisation or in violation of established financial protocols. Modiba says the Section 79A Committee has recommended irregular expenditure of 246-million-rand to be recovered in the 2023/2024 financial year:

# The Zimbabwean government is expected to roll out a programme to provide cash handouts to vulnerable urban communities. This is in response to the effects of the El Niño drought in certain areas of the country. Social Welfare minister July Moyo announced an allocation of up to 250-million-rand to be disbursed monthly until March next year:

# Soccer: Lionel Messi may sit out Argentina’s Copa America game against Peru on Saturday to rest a sore thigh, with his team already qualified for the next round after two wins. Messi, who turned 37 this week, required brief medical treatment during Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile at the US-hosted tournament. But he completed the 90 minutes, shaving the post with one long range shot and was at the heart of Argentina’s attacks. The world champions and tournament favourites top Group A with six points.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-30-cents and the euro at 19-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-789-dollars-64-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-303-dollars-83-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….