News 12:00

BULLETIN 7 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Hlabisa officially proclaims the date for the local government election
# The National Treasury and an Asian bank sign an eight-billion-rand loan to support sustainable infrastructure
# And rugby: Puma flyhalf Tomás Albornoz will miss the Springboks’ clash after an altercation with a referee

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has officially proclaimed 4 November in the Government Gazette as the date for the local government election. He spoke to the SABC, urging eligible citizens to register before the voters’ roll closes at midnight. Hlabisa encouraged communities to use the ballot box to hold councilors accountable, as voting demands better service delivery and strengthen local democracy:

Meanwhile, the IFP is urging South Africans to register if they haven’t done so. Eligible citizens will have until midnight to register to vote or update their registration on the IEC’s website. The IFP’s Mkhuleko Hlengwa says by registering to vote, citizens are affirming that democracy is a responsibility that must be actively exercised:

# South Africa has signed an eight-billion-rand loan agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to strengthen climate-resilient urban services. National Treasury says the fund is specifically ring-fenced under a strict performance framework to upgrade urban systems against climate shocks such as floods or droughts, and improve basic service delivery. Treasury adds local municipalities and metros often lack the credit ratings required to borrow large sums of foreign currency on their own. The government-guaranteed loan bridges this gap.

Moving abroad:

# US president Donald Trump has signed two executive orders that seek to broaden the categories of children ineligible for automatic US citizenship, and ban so-called birth tourism. Last month the Supreme Court rejected his effort to end birthright citizenship. The Migration Policy Institute estimate birth tourism at 22-thousand to 26-thousand babies born annually on American soil. Trump says the order also denies birthright citizenship to children whose parents engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain citizenship:

# Rugby: Argentinian flyhalf Tomás Albornoz will miss tomorrow’s one-off Test against the Springboks in Buenos Aires after receiving a four-match ban. This happened after he confronted Australian referee Angus Gardner during last month’s ill-tempered Nations Championship home Test against England. Albornoz had to be physically restrained by one of his coaches and a teammate after Gardner disallowed a try that could’ve secured a draw for Argentina in the dying minutes. He will also miss Los Pumas’ two Tests against Australia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents and the euro at 18-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-403-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-299-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….