News 12:00

BULLETIN 18 September 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Efficient Group’s chief economist expects an unchanged interest rate
# The ANC says the Madlanga commission must leave no stone unturned in exposing wrongdoing
# And NAMPO’s Cape Expo breaks the attendance record

# The Efficient Group’s chief economist, Dawie Roodt, expects the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to keep interest rates unchanged today. Despite inflation easing from 3.5-percent in July to 3.3-percent last month, Roodt says central bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago is likely to delay another cut until November. The repo rate currently sits at seven-percent, with the prime lending rate at 10.5-percent. The committee cut rates by 25 basis points in July.

# The ANC says the work of the Madlanga commission of inquiry will play a vital role in restoring confidence in governance and strengthening democratic accountability. The commission started its hearings in Pretoria yesterday, with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, testifying. The commission is tasked with investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. The ANC’s spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, says the fight against corruption is not negotiable:

Meanwhile, minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the brutal killing of prosecutors is a heinous attack on the justice system and the rule of law. She says five prosecutors have been shot and killed in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape over the past five years. Kubayi says these attacks directed at members of the legal profession, who play a vital role in upholding justice and the rule of law, are unacceptable:

# Rugby: Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has named a 34-man squad, comprising 19 forwards and 15 backs, to face New Zealand in the final two rounds of the Rugby Championship. Prop James Slipper is on course to make his 150th appearance, joining Wales’ Alun-Wyn Jones and All Blacks’ Sam Whitelock as the only players to reach this milestone. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon, who missed the opening four games of the Championship, returns to the squad after recovering from injury. Another scrumhalf, Ryan Lonergan, is the only uncapped player in the group.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-38-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-69-cents and Bitcoin trades at 117-thousand-371-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-655-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The sixth NAMPO Cape Expo drew a record-breaking 49-thousand-326 visitors to Bredasdorp Park in the Western Cape. The expo brought together South Africa’s agricultural community, from forward-thinking farmers and innovative agribusinesses to cutting-edge technology providers and passionate entrepreneurs. Deputy president Paul Mashatile visited the expo, where he championed collaboration in agriculture, food security and support for emerging farmers. NAMPO’s managing director, Dirk Strydom, says the growth of the expo highlights just how relevant and necessary this platform is for producers in the winter grain regions.

Stay tuned for more news………….