News 08:00

BULLETIN 4 August 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Ramokgopa says South Africa is at a decisive decade in its energy market transformation
# March and March claims the protests against undocumented foreigners have led to positive improvements
# And, the Political Killings Task Team arrests five suspects in two separate high-profile cases

# Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says South Africa is at a decisive decade in its energy market transformation, with opportunities in generation and transmission, as well as for investors to shape the architecture of Africa’s future power system. The Integrated Resources Plan approved last year indicates 2.2-trillion-rand of investable energy opportunities entering the market through to 2039. It also includes a 440-billion-rand transmission expansion programme. Ramokgopa says the country’s electricity grid has the potential to be a catalyst for energy growth in the region.

# March and March founder, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has claimed that mass protests against undocumented foreign nationals on June 30th have led to a reduction in crime, spaces in schools for South Africans and an improvement in healthcare. The Border Management Authority has processed over 72-thousand repatriations through ports of entry between 7 June and 14 July across various nationalities. Ngobese-Zuma says many children of illegal immigrants have left the country with their parents, paving the way for South African children to access basic education:

# The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team has arrested five suspects in connection with the murders of ANC ward 10 councillor in the City of Tshwane, Thabang Masemola, and EFF member Aaron Makola. Two suspects, including the alleged hitman, have been arrested for the July 2025 murder of Masemola in Mamelodi East. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says following the discovery of Makola’s body in Delmas, Mpumalanga, last month, three suspects were apprehended over the weekend and charged with murder, kidnapping and robbery:

# European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the challenges posed by illegal immigration require united action and solidarity. Tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week. According to Spanish authorities, about 69-thousand-500 migrants ​have returned to Morocco, having arrived in the enclave in North Africa last Thursday. Nearly 100 people have died. Von der Leyen has urged the EU to double down in specific areas, including preventing irregular migration in the first place, strengthening external borders, and implementing early warning systems.

# Tennis: Third-seeded American Taylor Fritz clinched his 11th ATP Tour title by winning the DC Open in Washington. He defeated Spain’s Rafael Jodar 7-6, 6-4, to secure his first title since June 2025, and a first on a hard court since February 2024. In the women’s final, 21-year-old Alexandra Eala became the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title after defeating top-seeded American Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. With this victory, Eala has jumped from 28th in the world rankings to a career-high 20th.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-50-cents and the euro at 19-rand. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-629-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-58-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….