News 12:00

BULLETIN 2 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The separation of the energy portfolio is praised for its potential to end load-shedding
# Tshwane has the potential to become Africa’s economic hub
# And Tennis: Novak Djokovic is confident about his knee ahead of the Wimbledon opening match

# The establishment of a separate Electricity and Energy Ministry, led by minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and deputy minister Samantha Graham, has garnered positive reactions. Stakeholders praise its potential to end load-shedding permanently and navigate South Africa through the energy transition. Critics emphasise the ministry’s critical role in ensuring security, affordability, sustainability, and competitiveness in energy. Urgent priorities include legislative amendments, regulatory clarity, and municipal reform to support distribution and transmission sectors.

# Tshwane Economic Development Agency CEO Lardo Stander believes the metro has the potential to become the economic hub of Africa. He says this will only be possible if Tshwane succeeds in forging public-private partnerships to drive its efforts to secure energy independence. The metro is leading efforts to lease out the Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations to the private sector and is also engaging independent power producers for expertise in generating alternative green energy.

# The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa has rejected president Cyril Ramaphosa’s newly appointed cabinet. GIWUSA leader Mametlwe Sebei criticised the bloated 77-member cabinet, calling it a move favouring monopolist capitalists. Sebei claims the cabinet will harm workers’ rights and key economic sectors, and urges unions to mobilise against the new appointments:

# St Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, has condemned a lack of political will in Western Europe and the US to tackle the global climate crisis. This follows as hurricane Beryl has made landfall on Carriacou Island in the south-eastern Caribbean. Gonsalves says more financial action is needed from major countries of emitters of greenhouse gases. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned that the North Atlantic could get as many as seven major hurricanes this year, up from the average of three in a season.

# Tennis: Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic says he is confident about the health of his knee ahead of his first-round match at Wimbledon today. The Serb had surgery to repair a torn meniscus after withdrawing before his French Open quarterfinal match less than four weeks ago. The 37-year-old will face Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in the first round, as he begins his quest for a record-equalling eighth title. Djokovic says he has had a good week of training:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-590-dollars-64-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-331-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….