News 18:00

BULLETIN 16 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa tables the Presidency’s budget vote and pledges focus on jobs, growth and clean governance
# A PIC senior executive is suspended over a three-million-rand bribe allegation
# And rugby: The Boks won’t appeal Jasper Wiese’s four-match ban after his red card against Italy

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Presidency will focus on creating jobs, growing the economy, and promoting clean governance. Tabling the Presidency’s budget vote in Parliament, he said the government of national unity is committed to working together to rebuild the country and reduce poverty. Ramaphosa announced major investments in infrastructure, expanded youth employment programmes, and stronger efforts to fight corruption and crime:

# The Public Investment Corporation has suspended its head of Unlisted Investments, Thabiso Moshikara, following bribery allegations. News24 reports that Moshikara is accused of demanding a three-million-rand bribe linked to the PIC’s unlisted investment portfolio. The PIC, which manages over two-trillion-rand in assets on behalf of government workers, says it is investigating the matter internally, aiming to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The corporation has committed to transparency and accountability as the probe unfolds.

# The minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, says government is moving swiftly to ban new captive lion breeding facilities, in a major step for wildlife protection. A prohibition notice will soon be published as part of wider efforts to phase out harmful breeding practices and protect animal well-being. The ban follows expert advice and supports stronger conservation laws. The department has completed key steps for the ban’s implementation and will engage provinces to ensure smooth rollout.

George has also launched the Rhino Renaissance Campaign at Kruger National Park, calling it a defining moment in South Africa’s G20 presidency. The initiative aims to restore Kruger’s white rhino population from two-thousand to 12-thousand within a decade through advanced tracking, dehorning, and youth ranger training. The minister told SABC News that tech-powered campaigns assist in efforts to protect South Africa’s rhino legacy:

# Rugby: The Springboks have decided not to appeal loose forward Jasper Wiese’s four-match ban after his red card in the second Test against Italy in Gqeberha. He will miss this Saturday’s one-off Test against Georgia in Mbombela as well as the first three Rugby Championships matches. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus praised the disciplinary process, saying Wiese was able to give a good account of his side of the story when he head-butted Italian prop Danilo Fischetti. Erasmus believes the ban was fair.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-93-cents and the euro at 20-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-423-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-326-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….