News 16:00

BULLETIN 7 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government’s Medium Term Development Plan is to focus on jobs, poverty eradication, and the fight against corruption
# Transnet extends its rail-slot bid deadline to the end of February
# And soccer: Holders Liverpool will face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final

# Government’s Medium Term Development Plan will focus on job creation, poverty eradication, and the fight against corruption. Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, says the plan aims to improve service delivery, align government budgets with priorities, and strengthen governance. Ramokgopa adds the plan replaces the previous framework and marks a critical phase in achieving the National Development Plan 2030:

# Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager has extended the rail-slot bid closing date from today to the 27th of this month following updates to the Network Statement. The inaugural statement outlines pricing and third-party operator integration, with updates boosting 2025/26 network capacity to 209-million tons. Adjustments include clarified equity-based access for emerging operators and enhanced planning processes. This is expected to encourage broader participation and improved application quality.

# The South African Social Security Agency is urging social grant beneficiaries to replace their SASSA Gold Cards with Postbank Black Cards by 28 February. After this date, the Gold Cards will be deactivated, preventing withdrawals and transactions. The replacement process began in September 2024, with thousands already switching. Beneficiaries can collect their Black Cards at selected retailers nationwide using a valid South African ID. The agency says the new cards will offer the same benefits, work immediately, and feature enhanced security.

# Soccer: Defending champions Liverpool overturned a one-goal deficit against Tottenham Hotspur to book their place in the Carabao Cup final. Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and captain Virgil van Dijk, saw the Reds beat Spurs four-nil in the semifinal second leg at Anfield. Arne Slot’s Liverpool will meet Newcastle at Wembley on March 16 after Newcastle beat Arsenal four-nil over their respective two semifinal legs. Slot is very happy for reaching his first final with the team:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-709-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-865-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave US president Donald Trump a golden pager when the two met at the White House this week. Netanyahu’s office says the gift symbolises a turning point in the war against Hezbollah, when Israel carried out a deadly operation against the Lebanese group using exploding pagers in September last year. Israel says this strategic operation showcases Israel’s strength, technological superiority, and ingenuity against its enemies.

Stay tuned for more news………….