News 13:00

BULLETIN 10 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The search for the missing deputy director of Water and Sanitation Sello Machitje continues
# Cape Town’s mayor urges caution as the stormy weather continues
# And, rugby: The Test between the Springboks and Ireland will boost Durban’s economy

# The search for deputy director of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sello Machitje, continues after his reported hijacking in Gauteng on Monday. Machitje left home around 5pm for the Eastern Cape, but never arrived. Police spokesperson Noxolo Kweza confirmed a missing persons case has been opened. Police and private security traced Machitje’s vehicle to Alexandra in Johannesburg, where a 53-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle.

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has urged residents to exercise caution and avoid non-essential travel as heavy rains and flooding persist across the city. The storm, caused by a second cold front, has led to heavy rains and localised flooding in over 70 neighbourhoods. Hill-Lewis says more than seven-thousand dwellings in informal settlements have been affected, and multiple rivers, including the Eerste and Liesbeek, have burst their banks:

Meanwhile, July rainfall records have been broken in the Western Cape. New rainfall records for the month have been broken at weather stations in Elim, Swellendam and Tulbagh. Elim got its highest rainfall in eight years at 70.2 millimetres, Tulbagh 69.8 and Swellendam 30.4. Meteorologist Annette Botha says while temperatures in the east are expected to recover, the Western Cape will face two more cold fronts this week.

# Greece’s main opposition party, Syriza, says the recent introduction of a six-day working week for certain companies is a disgrace. The measure was introduced by the right-wing ruling New Democracy party earlier this month. Greece has been facing a shortage of skilled workers since the financial crisis of the late 2000s, which drove young people abroad in search of better prospects. The policy has attracted domestic and international attention as it goes against the grain of many Western countries, where the four-day week is being debated to boost productivity.

# Rugby: The eThekwini Municipality says the highly anticipated second Test between South Africa and Ireland on Saturday is set to help Durban’s economy grow. The metro’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, says hosting the game will have a direct spend of 125-million-rand, a gross domestic product contribution of 309-million-rand, and the creation of 559 jobs:

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-7-cents and the euro at 19-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-740-dollars-54-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-371-dollars-69-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….