News 14:00

BULLETIN 5 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says much work remains to achieve equitable and inclusive economic freedom
# Rugby: The Blitzboks coach is proud of his team after winning in LA
# And waste reclaimers are saving the Johannesburg metro 780-million-rand in landfill space annually

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says it is government’s overarching goal to encourage the development of an inclusive economy. He was speaking during the launch of the Transformation Fund at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria. Mashatile says much work remains to achieve equitable and inclusive economic freedom for all South Africans:

Meanwhile, ActionSA is calling on the government of national unity to deliver speedy economic reforms. This comes as Finance minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to table the national budget for the third time later this month. ActionSA’s Alan Beesley says the government has failed to address fundamental institutional problems that choke the economy, including prioritising key industries like steel, fixing freight and electricity infrastructure:

# Oil prices slumped today after OPEC Plus countries announced a sharp production increase despite oversupply concerns and growing fears that US president Donald Trump’s trade war could weaken demand. Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members of the oil cartel announced over the weekend an output increase of 411-thousand barrels a day for June, a month after a similar move had already caused prices to fall. The price of crude has also been sliding because of fears of a global economic slowdown on the back of Trump’s tariff onslaught.

# Rugby: Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman says winning the Sevens World Championship in Los Angeles proves the team is back to where they should be. Following pool wins against France, Great Britain, Argentina, and New Zealand in the semifinals, the Blitzboks defeated Spain 19-5 in the final. Snyman says the team delivered an amazing performance throughout the entire tournament:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-29-cents and the euro at 20-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-34-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-405-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-314-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-40-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Waste reclaimers are reportedly saving the Johannesburg metro an estimated 780-million-rand annually in landfill space. According to the African Reclaimers Organisation, they collect nearly 90-percent of the metro’s recyclables yet continue to work without formal recognition or support. Programme coordinator Nandi Tutani says reclaimers are experts, not homeless people, and need safe, designated workspaces. ARO is in talks with the City of Johannesburg to secure infrastructure and change public attitudes toward these vital but marginalised workers.

Stay tuned for more news………….