News 14:00

BULLETIN 1 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A sharp drop in new orders signals a tough month for the manufacturing industry
# Minister Solly Malatsi stresses information integrity at the M20 Summit
# And motorsport: Lewis Hamilton is hit with a five-place grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix

# South Africa’s manufacturing sector slipped back into contraction in August, with the Absa purchasing managers’ index falling to 49.5 points. New sales orders dropped sharply by 8.5 points following a brief rebound in July, while business activity remained weak at 45.8 points for the tenth consecutive month. Employment improved slightly but stayed below growth levels, reflecting ongoing challenges in domestic and global demand. On the positive side, input costs eased marginally, aided by a stronger rand and stable oil prices. However, overall manufacturing remains under strain.

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister, Solly Malatsi says information integrity is the invisible infrastructure of democracy and vital for social cohesion. Speaking at the Media 20 Summit in Johannesburg, he warned that disinformation, deepfakes, and Artificial Intelligence-driven manipulation threaten elections and stability. Malatsi emphasised that free, independent journalism is essential for democracy, and economic trust. He urged society to defend media freedom, warning that weakened media poses a global crisis:

Moving abroad:

# A massive rescue operation is underway in Afghanistan after a strong earthquake and multiple aftershocks flattened homes in a remote, mountainous region, killing more than 800 people. The earthquake struck just before midnight, shaking buildings from Kabul to neighbouring Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. The majority of Afghans live in low-rise, mud-brick homes that are vulnerable to collapse.

# Motorsport: Seven-time Formula One world champion, Lewis Hamilton, has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, his Ferrari team’s home race. He failed to slow under double yellow flags before the start of yesterday’s Dutch Grand Prix. Hamilton crashed out later after losing control while his teammate Charles Leclerc also went out after colliding with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The penalty means Hamilton will start no higher than sixth in his maiden race for Ferrari at Monza.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-57-cents and the euro at 20-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-74-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-318-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-469-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-94-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Transplant Education for Living Legacies, TELL, highlights children living with chronic kidney disease and the urgent need for organ donation. South Africa commemorates Kidney Awareness Week this week. According to the organisation, SA has one of the world’s lowest donor rates. Its managing director, Stella de Kock, says Awareness Week encourages early detection, family discussions on donation, and consideration of living donation. She says over eight-thousand South Africans await life-saving transplants, including 40 children:

Stay tuned for more news………….