News 12:00

BULLETIN 29 November 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Two-pot withdrawals could impact sales this Black Friday
# Gauteng’s planned new airport in the Sedibeng district is set to boost economic growth
# And cricket: Harry Brook’s century helps England in the first Test against New Zealand

# Standard Bank says it will be interesting to see how two-pot withdrawals will impact sales this Black Friday. Head of Credit, Tumelo Ramugondo, told the SABC there is a possibility of increased spending, but limited to essential items. He adds that interest rate cuts could also add an advantage to buying power, but it might take time before the effects can be seen:

# Gauteng’s planned new airport in the Sedibeng District is expected to enhance connectivity, create jobs, and attract both local and international investors. The project, part of a 200-billion-rand infrastructure investment, aims to position Sedibeng as a major economic hub. According to Finance MEC Lebogang Maile, the airport is a key element of broader plans that include expanding the Gautrain and developing a high-speed rail link from Gauteng to Limpopo. The project is expected to begin in 2026.

# Action Society is overseeing the case of a 14-year-old girl gang-raped by five boys at Kapteinsklip Station, Mitchells Plain in Cape Town in October. The boys, aged six to 17, videotaped and distributed the incident. Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm says three arrests have been made, with the next court appearance next week:

# Russia says it had downed 47 attack drones fired overnight by Ukraine, mainly targeting the Rostov border region where a major fire broke out at an industrial site. The nearly three-year conflict has seen a sharp escalation in recent days, with both sides deploying new weapons in a bid to gain the upper hand before US president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Local media reports the attack sparked a massive blaze at a petrol depot.

# Cricket: Harry Brook’s seventh Test hundred rescued England as the visitors finished on 319 for five on day two of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. Brook and Ollie Pope shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 151 after England slumped to 71 for four in reply to New Zealand’s 348. Joe Root was out for a duck in his 150th Test match. Brook, who is unbeaten on 132, will look to build on his 97-run partnership with captain Ben Stokes tomorrow, as England trails by 29 runs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-5-cents and the euro at 19-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-806-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-657-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….