News 06:00

BULLETIN 28 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gayton McKenzie describes Ramaphosa’s letter as a polite but firm rejection of the DA’s plans
# According to the latest Stats SA data fewer businesses are filing for bankruptcy
# And it is India versus South Africa in the T20 final

# Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says the ANC has been pushed too far by the DA. President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a letter to DA leader John Steenhuisen, criticising the DA for jeopardising the government of national unity negotiations. Ramaphosa accused the DA of shifting goalposts by demanding more Cabinet positions. Ramaphosa initially offered six cabinet positions including Trade and Industry and then revoked that portfolio and offered a portfolio perceived to be of less importance. The DA says eight cabinet positions will be proportional to its support in the elections.

Meanwhile, AgriSA says policy certainty and increased investment are crucial for fostering agricultural growth in South Africa. According to the organisation, stability in economic policies, secure property rights, and a supportive legal framework are essential for attracting investment. They urge the seventh administration to prioritise enhancing biosecurity, expanding agricultural exports through favourable trade agreements, and improving infrastructure like water, roads, and energy. AgriSA says effective collaboration between government and industry is essential to tackle rural community development and bolster national food security.

# According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa, businesses filing for closure have notably decreased. Last month, 125 businesses shut down, marking a 17.2-percent decline from the previous year. The total number of liquidations for the first five months stands at 638, a 9.3-percent decrease from the same period last year. Stats SA’s survey statistician, Onica Mushwana, says this suggests a slight improvement in business survival rates amid current economic strain:

# City Power has launched a new Customer Portal and AI-powered chatbot, Joulene, aimed at improving customer service. The 24/7 portal provides customers with instant access to historical data, customer queries, meter alarms, outage updates, power interruptions, bill simulations, and service inquiries. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena says this marks City Power’s commitment to digital transformation and enhanced customer engagement:

# The Zimbabwean currency has received international recognition. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced that the World Bank certified the ZiG international currency code, giving it a distinct identity. ZiG is short for Zimbabwe Gold. Backed by precious metals and foreign currency worth approximately 5.5-billion-rand, approximately 1.4-billion-rand of ZiG are currently in circulation. Replacing the Zimbabwean dollar, the ZiG is expected to stabilise prices, boosting economic growth and market confidence.

# Cricket: India has emphatically claimed a place in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados on Saturday with a 68-run victory against England in Georgetown, Guyana. Indian captain Rohit Sharma led his team to a highly competitive total of 171 for seven after being asked to bat first. England’s demise was quick and they were all out for just 103 in 16 overs and four balls.

South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semifinal on Thursday morning. The Proteas bowled Afghanistan out for just 56 in 11 overs and 5 balls and reached 60-1 in 8 overs and 5 balls. The final will be played in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday beginning at 4:30 pm SA time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-34-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-422-dollars-78-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-320-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….