News 13:00

BULLETIN 23 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Reserve Bank hosts a conference on cross-border payments and regional integration
# Minister Steenhuisen welcomes the lifting of Zimbabwe’s maize import ban
# And cricket: South Africa beats Pakistan to draw the Test series

# The South African Reserve Bank is hosting the Advancing Cross-Border Payments Conference in Pretoria today. In partnership with the Bank for International Settlements, the conference seeks to identify opportunities and challenges shaping cross-border payments in sub-Saharan Africa. The challenges include complexities of linking fast payment systems globally. Governor Lesetja Kganyago is also expected to address delegates, outlining South Africa’s G20 priorities amid optimism that the country could be removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list tomorrow.

# Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has welcomed the decision by Zimbabwean authorities to lift the ban on the importation of maize and other grains. The minister has described the move as a major step toward strengthening regional food security and economic cooperation. The department’s spokesperson, Joylene van Wyk, says the agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures too often lead to market distortions that ultimately harm the consumer:

# The DA says Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber’s announcement that passports for South Africans living abroad will now be delivered by courier is a game-changer. The courier delivery will be available from the first of next month and will initially be available at the existing Home Affairs service centres located in 18 cities around the world. The DA’s Ludré Stevens says this major step forward is a victory for South Africans abroad:

# Cricket: South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the second and final Test in Rawalpindi to draw the series 1-all. Offspinner Simon Harmer took six wickets as the Proteas dismissed Pakistan for 138 in their second innings, giving the visitors a 68-run target to win. South Africa chased down the target with ease, thanks to captain Aiden Markram’s 42 and an unbeaten 25 from Ryan Rickelton. Pakistan won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs. The nations will now face each other in three T20s.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-35-cents and the euro at 20-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-311-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-119-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Miss Universe SA, 29-year-old model, film, and television producer, Melissa Nayimuli, is set to represent South Africa on the world stage at Miss Universe in Thailand next month. Born in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape to a Xhosa mother and a Ugandan father, Nayimuli first entered the Miss South Africa competition in 2020 but did not win. She returned in 2023, where she made the top five. African Beauty International says Nayimuli will carry a message of hope, unity, inclusivity and transformation in Thailand.

Stay tuned for more news………….