News 12:00

BULLETIN 3 November 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government will assess the impact of South Africa’s exclusion from AGOA
# TLU SA welcomes the proposed import controls to stabilise the sugar industry
# And rugby: Rassie says Moeratbrings value to the Bok team

# Government is assessing the potential impact of the US’ decision to withdraw South Africa’s benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, with effect from January. Washington has accused Pretoria of failing to make sufficient progress in combating corruption and removing barriers to American trade and investment. Department of Trade, Industry and Competition spokesperson, Kaamil Alli, says government will provide support on a company-by-company basis, while retaining measures introduced in response to earlier US tariffs:

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA has welcomed government’s plans to introduce stricter import controls and quotas on deep-sea sugar imports in a bid to stabilise the domestic sugar industry. Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister Zuko Godlimpi announced government is considering the measures to support the local sugar industry. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the proposed intervention could provide relief to local sugar producers and help protect the sustainability of the industry:

# Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has welcomed the Human Rights Commission’s report and recommendations regarding Gauteng’s water and sanitation crisis. Across the nine municipalities that supply water in the province, the commission found recurring issues, including ageing and deteriorating infrastructure, high levels of water losses, insufficient storage and pumping capacity and bulk water failures within the municipal distribution systems. Morero says the metro needs about 13-billion-rand to replace its ageing water infrastructure and curb massive water losses. He has committed to implementing the commission’s eight recommendations.

Moving abroad:

# Americans head to the polls for the midterm elections today, with control of the Senate and House, both currently held by the Republicans, at stake. Opinion surveys suggest the Democrats are well-positioned to win the House, while the party holds the advantage in the Senate race in Michigan, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, and Texas. President Donald Trump, whose approval rating is around 38-percent, says all his administration has done get wiped out if the Democrats win.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has defended lock Salmaan Moerat against criticism on social media, saying his contribution is invaluable. Eleven-cap Moerat starts in the second row for South Africa’s Nations Championship clash against Italy in Turin on Saturday. The 28-year-old, who left the Stormers for French outfit La Rochelle, has not played for the Boks this year. Erasmus says Moerat’s value in the team lies in unglamorous graft rather than flashy play:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents and the euro at 18-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-549-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-908-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 110-dollars-69-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….