News 09:00

BULLETIN 31 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA says the government’s silence on the US trade tariff deadline is deafening
# Cosatu says the Appropriation Bill brings budgetary certainty to the government
# And the US sanctions the Brazilian judge overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial

# ActionSA says the government of national unity has been woefully inadequate in its efforts to address the deteriorating relationship with the USA. South Africa and America have still not reached a trade deal, as president Donald Trump’s 30-percent tariff on the country’s goods is due to take effect tomorrow. ActionSA president Herman Mashaba says the fallout from the imposition of these trade tariffs is projected to reduce economic growth by a further 0.3-percent and, consequently, increase the cost of living:

# Cosatu says the National Council of Provinces’ passing of the 2025/2026 Appropriation Bill brings budgetary certainty to government. The legislation outlines how government funds will be allocated among various departments. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says they welcome the additional funding to help rebuild frontline public services crippled by years of reckless neo-liberal austerity budget cuts. He says this includes 29-billion-rand for education, 28.9-billion-rand for health, as well as filling key frontline vacancies, including 800 doctor posts:

# Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has expressed concern over findings in the Health Ombud’s report on Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, following the deaths of two patients. The report cites a lack of power, poor infrastructure, and staff shortages. Motsoaledi announced that the National Mental Health Review Committee will revisit the hospitals, stressing that a thorough reassessment is needed to reverse what he called multi-system organ failure:

# The US Treasury Department has sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over the trial of Brazil’s former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. He is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent has accused Moraes of being responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicised prosecutions, including against Bolsonaro. He says they will hold accountable those who threaten US interests and the freedoms of citizens.

# Tennis: Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland eased into the third round of the Canadian Open in Montreal with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu. Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan battled past Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. Latvian Jelena Ostapenko defeated Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. In the men’s event in Toronto, fourth-seeded American Ben Shelton defeated Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the third round. British number two Cameron Norrie suffered a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 loss to Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-96-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-410-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-295-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-14-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….