News 06:00

BULLETIN 18 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls on faith leaders to help calm the tensions over migration
# A deal is struck to secure Tongaat Hulett’s future
# And rugby: Victor Matfield believes the Bulls can win the United Rugby Championship title on Friday

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on faith-based organisations to play a central role in calming rising tensions over migration and strengthening South Africa’s National Dialogue process. He held a special meeting with religious leaders at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday. Ramaphosa warned that frustration over economic hardship must not be allowed to fuel xenophobia or social division. He says when fear and anger rise, it is so often the voice of the pulpit, the mosque, the temple, and the synagogue that can call people back to compassion. 

# SA Canegrowers has welcomed an agreement between the Industrial Development Corporation and the Vision consortium to fund the business rescue of Tongaat Hulett. The deal provides short-term funding and withdraws the liquidation application, allowing the company to continue operating while a rescue plan is implemented. The organisation’s chairperson, Higgins Mdluli, says Tongaat Hulett remains a key player in the sector, supporting thousands of growers and contributing to rural economies.

# FNB senior economist Koketso Mano says any prolonged disruption to physical supplies of energy provides key near-term upside risk. South Africa’s consumer inflation rate rose to 4.5-percent in May this year, up from 4.0-percent in April. This marks the highest annual rate recorded since July 2024, when inflation stood at 4.6-percent. Mano says the prevailing over-recovery on regulated fuel prices in the country suggests that market movements are sufficient to mitigate the complete removal of the general fuel levy relief:

# The Western Cape Education Department has suspended a grade ten learner following the death of a fellow learner at Bellville South High School in Cape Town. The learner died last week in the hospital after allegedly being assaulted in a classroom following an attempted cellphone theft. The department’s Bronagh Hammond says disciplinary action will follow as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which is also being treated as a murder case by police:

# US president Donald Trump says the Iran deal is not final. The agreement, which is set to be signed in Switzerland tomorrow, lays out the terms of the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and some financial relief for Tehran. Speaking during the final day of the G7 summit in France, Trump warned Iran that any change to the peace agreement or failure to comply could bring an immediate military response:

# Rugby: Former Springbok and Bulls lock Victor Matfield believes the Pretoria team could clinch the United Rugby Championship title on Friday night if they play the correct game. The Bulls take on Leinster in Dublin after losing all three finals they’ve reached in the past four years. The hosts will rely on home-ground advantage and having an almost full-strength Irish Test side. But Matfield points to the visitors’ quality forwards, saying they should just be a little bit conservative and use their dominance up front and their physicality.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 18-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-347-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-266-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….