News 15:00

BULLETIN 18 June 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# S&P is not expecting any significant policy shifts from SA’s government of national unity
# There are calls for the regulation of South Africa’s junk food industry to fight obesity
# And Rugby: Rassie includes four uncapped players to take on Wales as Vincent Koch hits his 50th Test cap

# S&P Global Ratings says it does not expect significant policy shifts from South Africa’s government of national unity. The government includes the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, and Patriotic Alliance. While S&P sees the outcome as favorable for economic and fiscal outlooks, it notes challenges in reviving growth and maintaining fiscal discipline. Ideological differences and coalition volatility may pose risks. S&P forecasts South Africa’s real GDP to grow by 1.1-percent in 2024 and an average of 1.3-percent between 2025 and 2027.

# The Healthy Living Alliance has called for the regulation of South Africa’s junk food industry to fight the obesity epidemic. The organisation warned that South African youth face an obesity epidemic, increasing their risk of hypertension, strokes, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. The alliance’s Eunice Montso, said easy access to junk food is a major contributor highlighting that fast food marketing creates high demand. The alliance calls for regulation of the food industry to limit access to ultra-processed and junk foods and make healthy foods more accessible and affordable for communities.

# Gauteng police are offering a reward of 100-thousand-rand to any person who can assist with information that can lead to the arrest and successful conviction of Dennis Nyatsunga, also known as Shumba. Police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, says Nyatsunga is wanted for the murder of four people in Soshanguve, including two girls aged four and seven who were burned inside a shack earlier this month. Masondo says he is also facing charges of attempted murder and arson:

# The Namibia Airports Company says the Aviation Development Africa event scheduled for this week is set to boost tourism and the aviation sector and will be drawing global aviation industry leaders to Windhoek. Namibia Airports Company spokesperson, Dan Kamati says with the theme, Igniting Connections and Propelling Growth, AviaDev Africa has become the leading platform for promoting air travel development on the continent:

# Rugby: World Cup-winning prop Vincent Koch will earn his 50th Test cap on Saturday when the Springboks take on Wales at Twickenham in their first international since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in France in October last year. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the squad that features four uncapped players. Wing Edwill van der Merwe and flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse are the two uncapped players in the run-on team. Lock Ben-Jason Dixon and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are the two new faces on the replacements bench.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-12-cents and the euro at 19-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-244-dollars-78-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-309-dollars-97-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….