News 15:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 23 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa signs the Public Procurement Bill into law
# Parliament suggests the dome used for Mandela’s funeral to temporarily host sittings
# And, the Olympics: The Blitzboks believe they can win a medal for Team SA

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed legislation creating a single framework to regulate public procurement across all state organs. The Public Procurement Act aims to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and integrity in procurement processes, and address past corruption issues. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the act promotes transparency, technological efficiency, and economic development by prioritising local goods and services:

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has announced that the dome used for Nelson Mandela’s funeral will temporarily host parliamentary matters during the National Assembly’s reconstruction. Delivering her budget vote, Didiza said she will meet Public Works minister Dean Macpherson on Thursday to finalise the arrangement. She stresses that the lack of a permanent meeting chamber is hindering parliamentary work:

# Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment minister, Dion George, says South Africa is focused on implementing ambitious actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including through the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan. He addressed the eighth session of the ministerial meeting on climate action in Wuhan, China. George says the country remains firmly committed to contributing its fair share to addressing the global climate crisis, and the economic transition to a low-carbon future.

# Olympics: The Springbok Sevens will start their Olympic campaign against Ireland in Paris tomorrow. South Africa qualified at the last possible moment and now their focus is on winning a medal. The Blitzboks are playing in Pool A which also includes New Zealand and Japan. Coach Philip Snyman believes they have turned around a disappointing season and can win a medal for Team SA: 

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-643-dollars-70-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-409-dollars-89-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

# And, finally: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has reported a significant drop in rhino poaching since starting a dehorning initiative in April. Previously, 30 to 40 rhinos were poached monthly, but this has dropped to an average of five per month from May to July. Spokesperson Musa Mntambo says Ezemvelo has started erecting a new smart fence at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to curb rhino poaching. The conservation body is also employing fence walkers from local communities to patrol perimeter fences daily and repair any damages.

Stay tuned for more news………….