News 13:00

BULLETIN 1 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# John Steenhuisen says the DA has rescued South Africa from the doomsday scenario
# Eskom adds 800 megawatts to the grid as Kusile Unit 5 achieves commercial operation
# And Olympics: A British sprint sensation books his place in the Paris Games

# DA leader John Steenhuisen says the party is committed to painstakingly rebuilding the government institutions now under its custodianship, to translate its demonstrated track record of good governance. The party has secured 12 positions in the new cabinet under the government of national unity. Steenhuisen says throughout the negotiation process, the DA has pursued a clear strategic objective, built on two inter-linked aims:

Meanwhile, the education activist Hendrick Makaneta says the new minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, should increase the Grade 12 pass mark from 30- to 50-percent for all subjects. Makaneta says it cannot be correct that there are still subjects where learners need only 30-percent to pass. He says secondly the minister should prioritise the eradication of pit latrines in schools as a matter of urgency:

# Following six months of rigorous testing and optimisation, the Kusile power station’s Unit 5 has officially been added to the Eskom fleet. The official handover of the unit adds a much-needed 800 megawatts to the power utility’s grid and marks a significant milestone in the utility’s efforts to stabilise South Africa’s power supply. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says upon completion, the Kusile power station will consist of six units, producing a maximum of four-thousand-800 megawatts:

# Olympics: British sprint sensation Louie Hinchliffe secured a place at the Paris Games with a confident victory in the men’s 100-metre at the UK athletics championships. The 21-year-old, who is coached by American great Carl Lewis, has proved one of the breakout stars of the year with a best time of 9.95-seconds earlier. He clocked 10.18-seconds as he defied the rain to triumph in Manchester over the weekend. Hinchliffe has broken the ten-second barrier twice this year, although the first was wind-assisted.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-1-cent and the euro at 19-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-83-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-753-dollars-38-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-328-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Global warming poses a substantial risk to South Africa’s mining and agriculture sectors. This is according to PwC South Africa’s economic outlook for June. Rising temperatures can curb the supply of water for crop irrigation, agricultural processing, and mineral ore extraction and processing. PwC calculates that by 2035, 24-percent of global maize, 35-percent of wheat, and 84-percent of rice production will be at significant, high, or extreme risk of heat stress. PwC SA chief economist, Lullu Krugel, says commodity producers need to enhance resilience by identifying and managing climate risks.

Stay tuned for more news………….