News 09:00

BULLETIN 2 September 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Goldman Sachs Group sees South Africa returning to investment grade by 2028
# Gauteng selects 18 aspiring doctors from disadvantaged backgrounds to study medicine in Cuba
# And cricket: Maphaka believes he will be able to fill Rabada’s role in the ODIs against Australia

# Goldman Sachs Group believes South Africa could regain its investment status as soon as 2028, as ratings companies reward the country’s improving finances and economic growth. Its analysis suggests scope for the government ten-year local-currency yield to fall more than 100 basis points to 7.6-percent. Goldman economist Andrew Matheny says they expect better fiscal dynamics, firmer growth and a stronger policy backdrop to drive credit upgrades over the next year. S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Ratings have South Africa two notches below investment grade, with positive outlooks.

# ActionSA says Parliament’s decision to rescind the recommendation of Advocate Thandazani Madonsela as evidence leader is a classic display of Stalingrad delay tactics. President Cyril Ramaphosa objected to Madonsela’s appointment, citing potential conflicts of interest, including previously providing legal advice to the ANC on matters connected to the impeachment process. ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni says procedural fairness cannot now become procedural infinity, warning that the danger is that Parliament exchanges one deadlock for another:

# The Gauteng Department of Health has selected 18 young people from disadvantaged communities across the province to study medicine in Cuba through the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Training Programme. The group was selected from two-thousand-480 applicants following a competitive recruitment process launched in May 2025. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the Cuban medical training model places strong emphasis on primary healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion, which aligns with South Africa’s healthcare priorities:

# Germany has announced a slew of new measures against Russia, after blaming Moscow for being behind last month’s drone attack targeting the Leipzig/Halle Airport. A drone containing explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft used to transport military supplies inside a secure area of the airport. However, it failed to explode as the detonator was apparently faulty. Germany’s Foreign Ministry has ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House, a cultural centre, in Berlin. The country is also tightening controls for Russian nationals.

# Cricket: Young Proteas fast bowler Kwena Maphaka believes he will be able to fill Kagiso Rabada’s role in this month’s home one-day series against Australia. Rabada is sidelined with injury and won’t return before next month’s Test series against the Aussies. Twenty-year-old Maphaka says he is confident in his abilities after leading the bowling attack for the Lions and South Africa Under-19. The ODI series against Australia starts in Durban on the 24th, and the first of three Tests on 9 October, also in the coastal city.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-18-cents and the euro at 18-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-369-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-304-dollars-12-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 97-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….