News 13:00

BULLETIN 29 September 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Kganyago says South Africa’s macroeconomic outlook is improving
# Golf: Four men are shortlisted for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2027
# And South Africa’s blood stock has dropped with government calling for urgent donations

# Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago says South Africa’s macroeconomic outlook is improving despite global volatility and uncertainty. Speaking at a Mapungubwe Institute forum, Kganyago warned of a global policy crisis driven by economic, environmental, geopolitical and social challenges. He says inflation is expected to slow significantly next year, with the bank targeting three percent by year-end. Kganyago also emphasised government’s debt position is improving, with the debt-to-GDP ratio expected to decline over the coming years.

# The Public Servants Association is alarmed at the Special Investigating Unit’s revelations of over two-billion-rand in irregular contracts by the Department of Defence. The SIU has flagged a 217-million-rand deal linked to the acquisition of an Alpha‑2B Covid-19-drug from Cuba, and other contracts. PSA’s Claude Naicker says irregular expenditure of this magnitude undermines morale among public servants who strive to uphold the values of integrity and service:

# Union federation COSATU has expressed concern at allegations of misuse of 2.59-billion-rand of worker’s benefits by the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry. The counciI has thus been accused of placing the money it collected for workers’ benefits on its books as its own assets. It has denied the allegations. COSATU’s Nonzuzo Dlamini says this raises concerns over transparency in the council’s financial reporting:

# Golf: Four men have been shortlisted for inclusion in the sport’s World Hall of Fame next year. They are England’s Justin Rose, Australian Adam Scott, and Americans Corey Pavin and Jim Furyk. Rose won the US Open in 2013, Scott won the Masters the same year, Pavin is the 1995 winner of the US Open, and Furyk won the same tournament in 2003. A 24-member selection committee will announce the final selection in December. The induction ceremony will take place at St Andrews in Scotland in July next year.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents and the euro at 18-rand-61-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-805-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-142-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Government is urging South Africans to donate blood as the country’s stocks are under pressure. The South African National Blood Service needs three-thousand-500 units a day to maintain a five-day supply for each blood group. It emphasises blood cannot be manufactured, and with a limited shelf life, regular donations are essential to keeping hospitals supplied. Government spokesperson William Baloyi says the strain in the country’s national blood supply is concerning.

Stay tuned for more news………….