News 12:00

BULLETIN 16 May 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Presidency expects the meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump to observe the right decorum
# The SA Automotive Industry urges the US to rethink tariffs amid the AGOA uncertainty
# And golf: Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas leads the PGA Championship after the opening round

# The Presidency says it expects next week’s meeting between president Cyril Ramaphosa and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to observe the right decorum. The meeting will be a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told the SABC the president is mindful of what could happen, given what transpired when Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House, but he is not fearful:

Meanwhile, Automotive Business Council CEO Mikel Mabasa says the sector has engaged US envoy Mcebisi Jonas over challenges posed by Trump’s new tariff regime. Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Naamsa Trade Manual, Mabasa stressed hopes for continued exports to the US, despite fears over Africa’s African Growth and Opportunity Act access. The US is South Africa’s third-largest auto export market, with trade valued at nearly 29-billion-rand last year. Mabasa emphasised AGOA’s extension to 2041.

# The MK Party strongly condemns Higher Education and Training minister Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane’s initial decision to appoint a board of Sector Education and Training Authority members heavily aligned with the ANC. It says it is disingenuous that she revoked the appointments only when faced with huge backlash, rather than acknowledging the inherent ethical failings and moral impropriety of the original decision. Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela says the retracted list was dominated by ANC deployees with questionable credentials, and amounted to cronyism:

# Golf: Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas carded an opening round of seven-under 64 to take a two-shot lead over American Ryan Gerard and Australian Cam Davis at the US PGA Championship in North Carolina. Masters champion Rory McIlroy had an error-filled opening round, as the Northern Irishman ended the day ten shots behind the leader. South Africa’s Garrick Higgo and world number one, American Scottie Scheffler, are among a nine-way tie for 20th at two-under par. Vegas has described his start as incredible:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-7-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-248-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-200-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities has announced the theme for Casual Day 2025 would be Beyond the Label. This initiative encourages South Africans to recognise and celebrate persons with disabilities for their full humanity, moving past societal labels. Set for Friday, 5 September, participants can support the cause by purchasing a 20-rand sticker or dynamic blue merchandise, with proceeds benefiting disability organisations nationwide. Casual Day promotes inclusivity and challenges perceptions about people with disabilities.

Stay tuned for more news………….