News 12:00

BULLETIN 19 June 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Rand breaks through the 18-rand to the dollar barrier on inauguration day
# TLU SA is concerned about the appointment of Senzo Mchunu, as the acting minister of Agriculture
# And cricket: The Proteas’ Aiden Markram warns the USA is not a small team anymore

# The South African rand has broken through the 18-rand to the dollar barrier. This coincides with the inauguration of president Cyril Ramaphosa today. Analysts say this financial development marks a notable strengthening of the currency, reflecting positive market sentiment. This is the rand’s strongest performance in recent months, attributed to a surge in investor optimism and anticipated economic reforms. Pundits highlight the strengthening of the rand as a signal of potential stability and growth in the economy.

# The agricultural organisation TLU SA says it takes note of the appointment of the current minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, as acting minister of Agriculture. TLU SA CEO, Bennie van Zyl says this move immediately raises the question of whether this appointment forecasts a permanent position and whether it was truly necessary to make this decision just days before a new cabinet is appointed:

# Transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga announced that 55-billion-rand has been spent on infrastructure and operations in 13 cities since 2006. This includes the building of 131 bus-based public transport systems, two-thousand-628 bus stops, and eleven depots. Additionally, trunk roads and non-motorised transport facilities were constructed. Chikunga says the investment aims to enhance public transport, and road infrastructure and improve urban transport systems:

# A record number of politically motivated crimes occurred in Germany last year, fuelled partly by global events including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Authorities registered 60-thousand-and-28 politically motivated offences last year, up from 58-thousand-916 the previous year. The report from Germany’s domestic intelligence agency says there was a 22.4-percent increase in crimes committed by right-wing extremists and crimes by left-wing extremists increased by 10.4-percent. There was also a surge in anti-Semitic crimes, which jumped to 492 from just 33 the previous year.

# Cricket: South Africa captain Aiden Markram warned his side against under-estimating the United States ahead of their T20 World Cup showdown, claiming the Americans are not a small team anymore. Co-hosts USA stunned the sport by beating former champions and Asian powerhouse Pakistan in the first-round group stage. South Africa finished their opening group campaign with a perfect four wins in four games but they rode their luck to maintain a 100-percent record. The two teams meet at 4.30 this afternoon.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-94-cents and the euro at 19-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-212-dollars-86-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-334-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….