News 11:00

BULLETIN 17 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Reserve Bank governor says the US tariffs will impact South Africa’s auto and agricultural sectors
# The EFF retains Malema’s home ward in Polokwane
# And rugby: All Blacks coach Scott Robertson makes 10 changes to his team for the final Test against France

# South African Reserve Bank governor, Lesetja Kganyago, is warning that the US tariffs will impact South Africa’s automotive and agricultural sectors the most. America is set to impose a 30-percent tariff on exports from South Africa from the first of next month. Around 100-thousand jobs in the automotive and agricultural sectors are at risk, including 35-thousand jobs in the citrus sector alone. Kganyago told Reuters it is important for individual countries to tailor their response to the tariffs to suit their economies:

# AZAPO has termed the appointment of Mineral and Petroleum Resources minister, Gwede Mantashe, as acting Police minister as a sign of poor leadership. The organisation cites Mantashe’s links to corruption allegations and as a person of interest in the Zondo commission. Azapo warns while he has not been charged as requested by retired chief justice Raymond Zondo, the move raises conflict of interest concerns. It emphasises that it shows president Cyril Ramaphosa’s disregard for restoring integrity and fighting crime in South Africa.

# The EFF has retained Ward 13 in Seshego, Polokwane, securing 57.34-percent of the votes in the by-election in leader Julius Malema’s home ward. The ANC came second with 40.91-percent, with the SACP a distant third, securing 1.19-percent of support. The by-election was triggered by the expulsion of EFF councillor Mafiwa Leballo. The EFF’s new ward councillor, Mongatane Ramaphoko, says this victory is a testament to the trust the community has placed in the party to champion their struggles and deliver genuine change on the ground.

Moving abroad:

# The US Justice Department has fired veteran federal prosecutor Maurene Comey. She was involved in the case against convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Comey was also part of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ case. Her firing comes as president Donald Trump’s administration is facing backlash over its handling of the files relating to Epstein, but Trump has called the Epstein controversy a hoax:

# Rugby: All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson, has made ten changes for the third and final Test against France in Hamilton on Saturday. Seven players in the 23 have been named for the first time this season. Hooker Brodie McAlister is poised to make his Test debut from the bench. Prop Tyrel Lomax, loose forward Luke Jacobson, and backs Anton Lienert-Brown and Sevu Reece have all returned from injury to take a spot in the starting line-up. Robertson says they are prepared for a determined and spirited French side.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-179-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-334-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-76-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….