News 09:00

BULLETIN 4 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# COPE calls on the new cabinet to prioritise policy certainty and job creation
# A survey indicates South African private sector activity declined in June
# And, the UN says about 90% of people in Gaza have been displaced since the war began

# COPE says the new cabinet under the government of national unity must prioritise policy certainty, economic growth and job creation. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo oversaw the swearing-in of all ministers and deputy ministers in president Cyril Ramaphosa’s new cabinet in Cape Town yesterday. COPE’s acting chairperson, Pakes Dikgetsi, says they will not hesitate to hold the new executive accountable:

# A survey by S and P Global Market Intelligence indicated that South African private sector business activity fell in June. Chief economist David Owen says output and new orders slipped due to uncertainty over the election outcome and uncertainty of a new government. Owen says the S and P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 49.2 in June from 50.4 in May. He anticipates a slight recovery in sales in July as firms return to normal activity.

# RISE Mzansi has welcomed the appointment of its national chairperson, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, as the new Gauteng MEC for Rural Development and Agriculture. Premier Panyaza Lesufi has put together a ten-member cabinet under the banner of a government of provincial unity. RISE Mzansi’s spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, says the party’s public representatives at both national and provincial spheres of government will be accessible, accountable and serve all communities:

# The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says about 90-percent of the population in Gaza has been displaced at least once since the war between Israel and Hamas began. The war broke out after Hamas’s seventh of October attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of one-thousand-195 people. Israel’s retaliatory offensive since then has killed at least 37-thousand-953 people. The UN’s, Andrea De Domenico, says the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire:

# Soccer: Mamelodi Sundowns has parted ways with head coach Rhulani Mokwena by mutual consent. He joined the club as co-head coach with Manqoba Mngqithi in the 2020-2021 season, before taking sole charge during the 2022-2023 season. Mokwena has won seven trophies in four seasons, including four league titles, a Nedbank Cup title, an MTN8 title, and the inaugural African Football League. Sundowns say this decision was taken by the board, taking into account the objectives and expectations of the club.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-48-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-902-dollars-28-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-358-dollars-32-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….