News 14:00

BULLETIN 2 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Creecy says her department expects 42-million passengers to move through the Airports Company network
# South Africa’s illicit alcohol market costs the country 16.5-billion-rand in lost tax revenue
# And cricket: Wiaan Mulder will lead the Proteas in the second Test against Zimbabwe due to Maharaj’s injury

# Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, says her department expects 42-million passengers and 1.2-million tons of air-freight to move through Airports Company South Africa’s network of airports by the end of this political term. Creecy delivered her department’s budget in Cape Town. She says they aim to reduce road fatalities by 45-percent by 2029 so that the country could reach the United Nations’ target of halving road fatalities by 2030:

# South Africa’s illicit alcohol market is now worth 25.1-billion-rand, costing the country 16.5-billion-rand in lost tax revenue. Nearly one in five alcoholic drinks sold is illegal, driven by large-scale counterfeiting and weak enforcement. The Drinks Federation of South Africa warns this undermines the economy, public health, and legitimate businesses. Many illegal products contain harmful substances like methanol. The federation has launched a national awareness campaign to help consumers identify illegal alcohol and reduce the growing threat to communities.

# City Power has announced the arrival of new electric vehicle charging stations, marking a key milestone in Johannesburg’s clean energy transition. Part of its ten-point Energy Plan, the rollout includes converting City Power’s fleet to electric, building city-wide charging infrastructure, and introducing battery-swapping systems. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena says the initiative will reduce emissions and fuel costs, and boost skills development, positioning Johannesburg as a leader in green mobility and economic innovation:

# Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian today put into effect a law passed by Parliament last month to suspend cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. Iranian state media reports the bill stipulates that any future inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency would need approval by the Supreme National Security Council. The move follows an air war with Israel in which Iran’s longtime enemy said it wanted to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran says the agency refused to condemn the attack on its nuclear facilities, putting its credibility in doubt.

# Cricket: Wiaan Mulder will lead the Proteas in the second Test against Zimbabwe after Keshav Maharaj was ruled out due to injury. Maharaj, who was the stand-in skipper in the absence of injured Temba Bavuma, sustained a groin injury while batting in the first Test in Bulawayo on Monday. He will return home for further assessment and Senuram Muthusamy was named as his replacement. The second Test starts on Sunday, also in Bulawayo, after South Africa won the first Test by 328 runs.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-67-cents and the euro at 20-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-806-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-342-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-71-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….