News 13:00

BULLETIN 14 August 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Free Market Foundation urges government to address South Africa’s job crisis
# The US is working to turn down the temperature in the Middle East
# And, Olympic Games: Tatjana Smith is overwhelmed by a generous fan on her return from Paris

# The Free Market Foundation says South Africa’s latest job numbers highlight the need for urgent action to boost employment. Following Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the foundation calls on the government of national unity to reduce job-killing regulations. Policy official Zakhele Mthembu advocates for the Job Seekers Exemption Certificate to help the unemployed and create a dynamic job environment:

Meanwhile, Rising electricity prices are exacerbating the divide between wealthy and impoverished areas. After a 60-percent increase in costs, residents of Johannesburg’s poorer areas like Yeoville face worsening conditions, while affluent areas install solar panels to cut costs. The Public Affairs Research Institute’s Tracy Ledger says City Power’s new prepaid meter charges and service fees further strain low-income households. Critics also argue that municipal mismanagement and inadequate free electricity programmes are deepening inequalities, with many poor residents unable to benefit from promised subsidies.

# The Gauteng High Court has ruled that the provincial government must pay approximately 500-million-rand to the horse-racing industry. The court found that it unlawfully ended a crucial betting levy. The ruling requires the government to restore the levy, which benefits local racing companies and potentially other operators across South Africa. This ruling follows the government’s unsuccessful appeal in its long-standing dispute with Phumelela Gaming and Leisure.

# The US says it is working to turn down the temperature in the Middle East. Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel for its alleged involvement in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Both Tehran and Hamas blame Israel for the killing, but Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement. US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, says a broader regional conflict is not inevitable:

# Olympic Games: South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith, was overwhelmed by the generosity of a fan when she and other members of Team South Africa arrived home from Paris. A woman among the welcoming crowd gave Smith 100-rand, telling her to buy herself chocolates, that she loved her, and wished she could give her more money. The two women posed for a picture, and Smith accepted the gift graciously. She added two medals in Paris to the two she won in Tokyo.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-6-cents and the euro at 19-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-890-dollars-5-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-474-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-17-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….