News 12:00

BULLETIN 1 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Firoz Cachalia is sworn in as acting minister of Police
# Shamila Batohi says the killing of an Eastern Cape prosecutor is an attack on the rule of law
# And Motorsport: Max Verstappen confirms he is staying with Red Bull for 2026

# Professor Firoz Cachalia had been sworn in as acting minister of Police at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Cachalia takes over from Senzo Mchunu, who is on special leave following corruption allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkwanazi. Yesterday, the Constitutional Court dismissed the MK Party’s challenge of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment powers. Cachalia, a former anti-apartheid activist, enters the role amid mounting concerns over public trust in law enforcement:

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi, has condemned the senseless killing of an Eastern Cape prosecutor. Tracy Brown, attached to the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court in Gqeberha, was gunned down outside her home yesterday. The NPA’s spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, says Brown’s murder is an attack on the rule of law and the tireless efforts to hold criminals accountable:

# The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee’s reduction of interest rates by another 25 basis points is the right decision given the low inflation and sluggish gross domestic product growth. This is according to North West University Business School economist, professor Raymond Parsons. He says the lower borrowing costs are positive at a time when the incipient economic recovery is struggling to gain momentum. Parsons warns that further interest rate cuts this year are highly unlikely given the global uncertainty because of US tariffs.

# Motorsport: Four-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain with Red Bull for the 2026 Formula One season. The 27-year-old Dutchman, who is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, was linked with a potential move to Mercedes next year. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen says his intention was always to remain with the team next year, especially as F1 enters a new technical regulation era:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-27-cents and the euro at 20-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-590-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-288-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-69-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, is hosting a Women Trade Intervention Dialogue at the official launch of 2025 Women’s Month at the Sandton Convention Centre today. Held under the theme ‘Building Resilient Economies for All,’ the event will spotlight informal economic support, green energy, and investment in key sectors. The minister will also lead a roundtable discussion on de-risking women’s financial inclusion and accessing African Continental Free Trade Area opportunities.

Stay tuned for more news………….