News 13:00

BULLETIN 17 July 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says South Africa is building Special Economic Zones that are globally competitive
# A temporary reinstatement will see Meiringspoort reopen by December
# And cricket: The one-day series between England and India will be decided at Lord’s on Sunday

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Special Economic Zones are not simply designated industrial sites; they are engines of economic transformation. A recent World Bank assessment found South Africa’s SEZs have attracted more than 34-billion-rand in investment, created over 30-thousand direct jobs, and generated more than 14-billion-rand in revenue for the fiscus. Ramaphosa says government continues to strengthen the SEZs programme and ensure that it remains globally competitive:

# Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says government remains committed to working with traditional leaders, families, communities and all stakeholders to achieve zero initiate deaths, no injuries and no illegal initiation schools. He says 43 initiates have died during the winter customary initiation season and 12 abductions were recorded, while 58 illegal initiation schools were identified, 42 of which have since been closed. Hlabisa says 180 initiates have been rescued, 75 hospitalised, three assault cases opened and one injury recorded.

# Western Cape premier Alan Winde says the provincial government is focused on restoring the Meiringspoort Pass as soon as possible to protect jobs and livelihoods. The route, which connects the Klein and Groot Karoo regions, was severely damaged in recent severe weather. Winde says, subject to favourable conditions, a temporary solution will be in place within the next six months, which will see the road reopened with strict access control measures:

Moving abroad:

# Twenty school children and one adult have been killed in a bus accident in Uganda’s Kapchorwa District. Several others were injured. Preliminary investigations show the bus suffered a mechanical fault before the driver lost control on Chekwatit Hill, resulting in the vehicle veering off the road and hitting a large stone before overturning. The bus was carrying learners from King David Junior School, who were returning from a study tour. Minister of Local Government, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, says an investigation into the crash has been launched.

# Cricket: The one-day series between England and India will be decided at Lord’s in London on Sunday after the hosts equalled the series last night. India won the first encounter in Bristol by 56 runs, and England struck back in Cardiff with a four-wicket victory. India was bowled out for 233 in 44 overs after Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson both took three wickets. Joe Root’s undefeated 99 lead England to victory in their 45th over, with six wickets down. Gurnoor Brar took two wickets.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-901-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-999-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….