News 11:00

BULLETIN 28 June 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls for a joint sitting of Parliament on Nelson Mandela Day
# The Africa Hospitality Investment Forum stimulates the continent’s economic growth
# And canoeing: The Berg River Marathon looks like it is going to be a battle for the ages

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for the Opening of Parliament on 18 July 2024. This session, aligned with Nelson Mandela International Day, allows the President to outline the priorities of the Seventh Administration. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the event seeks to honour Mandela’s legacy:

# The 14th International Donor Registry Conference has convened at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town. Hosted by the South African Bone Marrow Registry and the World Marrow Donor Association, the event will gather scientists, doctors, and global donor registries. The key focus of the conference is the advancements in stem cell research and donor diversity. Progress includes a rise in black donor representation from five-percent to 10- to12-percent. Funding support and donor recruitment are crucial for Patient Assistance Programmes.

# The City of Ekurhuleni says business and resident customers can expect a moderate increase in their utility bills from 1 July due to the updated tariffs. The city’s spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini says water will increase by 9-percent, sewer by 7-percent, refuse removal by 6-percent while electricity tariff will see an increase ranging between 11.02-percent and 12.74-percent for various tariff categories as per National Energy Regulator’s guidelines:

# The Africa Hospitality Investment Forum has wrapped up at the Movenpick Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia. This first Southern Africa event drew prominent international hotel owners, investors, and industry leaders. The forum aimed to inspire growth, foster development, and drive hospitality investment in the region. PwC South Africa’s Lullu Krugel emphasised the importance of understanding what attracts investors to Africa:

# Canoeing:  Thirteen-time race winner Hank McGregor confirmed this week he will not be taking part in the 2024 Berg River Canoe Marathon, leaving the four-day event from Paarl to Velddrif wide open for a mix of young and older contestants all hoping to get onto the podium on 6 July.  The Berg starts on Wednesday in Paarl and paddlers face an opening day of 62-kilometre to Zonquasdrift. Day Two goes from Zonquasdrift to Bridgetown, with the Queen Stage, a brutal grind to Zoutkloof. Wind and tides can make the 57-kilometre to Velddrif a gruelling final stage.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-495-dollars-69-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-327-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….