News 18:00

BULLETIN 16 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government cracks down on construction site disruptions
# The Chamber of Commerce and Industry reports improving trade conditions
# And, rugby: Another professional player dies from motor neuron disease

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has announced plans to intensify efforts to combat construction site disruptions through collaboration with law enforcement. The partnership aims to crack down on violence, intimidation, and extortion within the construction sector, to ensure uninterrupted project continuity and safety. Delivering the budget vote, Macpherson says this initiative forms part of broader measures to uphold lawfulness and protect the integrity of infrastructure development:

# The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reported improved trade conditions, with the Trade Activity Index reaching its highest level in June. Despite being in negative territory, 55-percent of respondents expect further improvement. Key components like sales and new orders have improved, though input costs remain high. The report indicates rising sales prices and input costs may impact inflation and interest rates. In a statement, SACCI says while trade conditions are better, employment in the sector remains relatively stable, with 43-percent of respondents hiring staff.

# Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Foreign Affairs minister Mohamed Sidati has urged South Africa to continue supporting his country. During a meeting with International Relations minister Ronald Lamola in Pretoria, Sidati also congratulated president Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election. Lamola emphasised the need for a referendum for Western Sahara’s self-determination, and pledged to raise the issue with the international community to uphold human rights in the country:

# Pacific nations have agreed to raise fishing quotas on bluefin tuna catches after a recovery of stocks. Members of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission agreed at talks in Japan to raise the quota for large bluefin tuna by 50-percent. For smaller bluefin tuna weighing less than 30 kilograms the limit was raised ten-percent. The meeting brings together 26 nations and regions to determine fishing policy in the Pacific.

# Rugby: Another Test player has died from motor neurone disease. Hooker Norm Hewitt played nine Tests for the All Blacks in the 1990’s, as well as 15 matches for the New Zealand Maoris. He was 55. Hewitt succumbed to the same illness that claimed the lives of Springboks Joost van der Westhuizen and Tinus Linee. Both died at the age of 45. Researchers have reportedly found that professional rugby players have a 15-percent bigger chance of developing motor neuron disease than other people.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-12-cents and the euro at 19-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-42-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-498-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-442-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….