News 11:00

BULLETIN 19 August 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says the national convention was just a stage-managed talk shop
# Numsa and the Trade and Industry Department are looking for a strategic partner for the Goodyear factory
# And cricket: Kagiso Rabada is ruled out of the ODI series against Australia

# ActionSA says the national convention was a stage-managed talk shop that was heavy on rhetoric and empty on solutions. The two-day convention brought together civil society, labour, business, faith groups and community organisations to map out how the next phase of the national dialogue will unfold over the next year. ActionSA’s Matthew George says from the start, president Cyril Ramaphosa’s weak and uninspired remarks set the tone for what became a complaints session masquerading as a national renewal project:

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen says the agricultural sector has demonstrated remarkable growth and resilience in the face of significant global trade headwinds. New data released by the Agricultural Business Chamber shows agricultural exports to the US surged by 26-percent in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period a year ago. The ministry’s spokesperson, Joylene van Wyk, says these results highlight how urgent it is to resolve the ongoing tariff talks with America:

# Metalworkers union Numsa says it’s in talks with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to find strategic partners to take over the Goodyear SA plant in the Eastern Cape. The tyre manufacturing plant in Kariega shut its doors last Friday, resulting in over 900 job losses. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says they have managed to secure an improved package for workers as part of the retrenchment process:

Moving abroad:

# French president Emmanuel Macron says a ceasefire is a necessary condition for negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. US president Donald Trump earler stated a ceasefire in Ukraine wasn’t necessary because a peace deal could be worked out while the war is ongoing. Trump met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders at the White House yesterday. Macron says America’s commitment to developing security guarantees for Ukraine is the most significant outcome:

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the three-match one-day series against Australia through injury. The 30-year-old underwent scans yesterday which revealed he has inflammation in his right ankle. He will remain in Australia and undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. Australian captain, Mitch Marsh, won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first ODI currently underway in Cairns. Dewald Brevis is making his ODI debut for the Proteas.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-942-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-340-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….