News 15:00

BULLETIN 11 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party’s support drops in eThekwini
# South Africa’s unemployment rate climbs to 33.6-percent
# And rugby: The All Blacks withdraw their star scrumhalf from the Sharks clash

# A poll has revealed the MK Party’s support in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, has fallen by 15-percentage points. According to the polls, the party remains the largest political force in the metro. It now stands at 33-percent, from 48-percent in 2024, due to two years of internal chaos under former president Jacob Zuma’s leadership. The poll comes ahead of the November local government elections, with political parties competing for control of KwaZulu-Natal’s economic hub.

# Madlanga commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has reprimanded National Coloured Congress Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams over the late submission of his statement. Adams blamed a faulty laptop and said he had tried his best to meet the deadline. Madlanga rejected the explanation as unbelievable, saying Adams had known for months a statement was required. He warned him against disregarding the commission, Parliament, or the people he represents:

# Union GIWUSA demands the immediate nationalisation of the pharmaceutical Industry. Last week, Pharmaceuticals Made in South Africa alleged the Health Department’s focus on price was squeezing local drug manufacturers out of crucial medicine tenders, triggering the loss of two-thousand-500 jobs in the past 18 months. GIWUSA’s president, Mametlwe Sebei, says government must take direct ownership and control of manufacturing facilities to ensure production is driven by social needs and not private profit:

# South Africa’s official unemployment rate has risen to 33.6-percent in the second quarter, highlighting the country’s ongoing jobs crisis. Statistics South Africa says employment declined slightly, while the number of unemployed people increased. The labour force grew by 121-thousand as more people entered the job market seeking work. Stats SA says although fewer people became discouraged from looking for employment, labour market conditions remain weak, with many South Africans still struggling to find jobs amid a growing working-age population.

# Rugby: Star scrumhalf Cam Roigard won’t play for the All Blacks in tonight’s match against the Sharks in Durban because of a niggle. He was named on the bench for the encounter at Kings Park, but head coach Dave Rennie decided not to take a chance with his playmaker before the Tests against the Springboks. Roigard has been replaced by Cortez Ratima. After tonight, the tourists will play the Bulls at Loftus on Saturday before facing the world champions in the first Test at Ellis Park next weekend.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-19-cents and the euro at 18-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-279-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-390-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….