News 16:00

BULLETIN 13 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says a 230-billion-rand EU investment will boost inclusive and sustainable growth
# POPCRU expresses concern about the potential implications of the Madlanga commission
# And netball: The Proteas’ captain reflects on lessons after the series defeat to Australia

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says new European Union investments will support inclusive and sustainable growth in South Africa. The EU has committed over 230-billion-rand to projects in clean energy, green hydrogen, renewable power, critical minerals, and vaccines. The funding will create jobs, support local mineral processing, green hydrogen production, and improve roads, ports, and digital connections. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said these investments will support South Africa’s shift to a low-carbon economy, protect workers and communities and attract further investment.

# The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union says its central executive committee has expressed measured concern about the potential implications of the Madlanga commission of inquiry into criminal activities within the justice system. POPCRU spokesperson Richard Mamabolo says the committee resolved to allow the commission to complete its work and will, upon its conclusion, engage the outcomes through the appropriate institutional and social dialogue platforms:

# The High Court in Pietermaritzburg is hearing the state’s closing arguments in the reopened inquest into the 1967 death of ANC leader and Nobel laureate, Albert Luthuli. The original inquest concluded he was struck by a goods train with no criminal culpability. The reopened proceedings which begun in April, examined new forensic and railway evidence, alongside testimony from family members detailing intensified security police harassment following Luthuli’s 1961 Nobel Peace Prize recognition. The closing arguments will conclude on Thursday.

# Netball: Proteas captain Khanyisa Chawane says there are valuable lessons to learn after Australia sealed a 3-0 series win with a dominant 65-42 victory in Adelaide. The Diamonds maintained their perfect record against South Africa, winning all 49 Tests. Despite the loss, Chawane praised her teammates’ fight, saying they’ll use the experience to improve consistency and accountability as they continue building towards future competitions:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-36-cents and the euro at 20-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-398-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-80-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Americans Joel Mokyr and Peter Howitt, and Britain’s Philippe Aghion. Mokyr is recognised for linking technological progress to sustained growth, while Howitt and Aghion are honoured for their creative destruction theory, showing how innovations replace old products and increase productivity. The Nobel Committee’s John Hassler says the laureates’ work highlights the importance of innovation in improving living standards and sustaining global economic growth:

Stay tuned for more news………….