News 14:00

BULLETIN 5 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom hails a gas supply deal as a milestone for energy security
# The Public Servants Association calls for urgent intervention amidst the failure to place 30-thousand TVET students
# And rugby: The Blitzboks take on Great Britain, Kenya and Fiji in the Bordeaux group matches

# Eskom has welcomed the signing of a gas supply agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal, describing it as a major step towards large-scale gas-fired power generation. Board chairperson Mteto Nyati says the deal reflects Eskom’s renewed focus on powering South Africa’s growth sustainably. He says gas and renewable energy will work together to improve grid reliability, reduce diesel use and support the country’s long-term energy transition:

# The Public Servants Association is concerned about the ongoing Technical and Vocational Education and Training placement crisis. More than 30-thousand students are still awaiting workplace training opportunities. PSA’s Claude Naicker says the problem is exacerbated by the fact that there are about 165-thousand students whose certificates are withheld by tertiary institutions of higher learning, owing to an escalating student-debt crisis:

# Union federation Cosatu applauds the strong support given to South Africa’s efforts to achieve employment equity by the International Labour Organisation’s Committee for the Application of Standards. This follows a case advanced by Business Unity South Africa, alleging non-consultation on the Employment Equity laws. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says key to unlocking economic growth is to ensure that all South Africans are afforded equal opportunities to find employment.

# Rugby: The Blitzboks face Great Britain in their first group match of the Sevens World Championship Tournament in Bordeaux, France, this afternoon. Their next match will be against Kenya tonight, and then against Fiji tomorrow. South Africa is currently on top of the log after winning the first tournament in Hong Kong and reaching the final in Valladolid, Spain, last weekend. The series champion will be crowned on Sunday, with the Blitzboks only needing to reach the final to take the title.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-26-cents and the euro at 18-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-549-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-466-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-71-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Former Deutsche Bundesbank president Axel Weber, who is now at Guth University in Frankfurt, has hailed late South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni as a patriot and economist. Speaking at the inaugural Tito Mboweni memorial lecture, Weber praised Mboweni’s role in shaping labour reforms, strengthening the central bank and promoting economic policy. He says Mboweni championed institutional integrity, economic inclusion and international cooperation:

Stay tuned for more news………….