News 15:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 13 August 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The unemployment rate rose to 33.5-per cent in the second quarter of 2024
# Rugby: Rassie makes 10 changes to the starting line-up for the Perth Test against the Wallabies
# And the minister of Sport reiterates the need for better compensation for athletes

# According to Statistics South Africa’s latest quarterly labour force survey, the unemployment rate rose to 33.5-percent in the second quarter of this year, up from 32.9-percent in the first quarter. Employment fell by 92-thousand to 16.7-million, while unemployment increased by 158-thousand to 8.4-million people. Job losses were highest in the Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, while Gauteng and Limpopo saw increases. Stats SA’s Dihlolelo Phoshoko says women’s unemployment also rose to 35.8-percent:  

# Nedbank’s Capital Expenditure monitor has revealed a surge in new project announcements for the first half of 2024, reaching 797.7-billion-rand compared to 193.2-billion-rand for all of 2023. This increase is attributed to improvements in power shortages, logistics, and inflation. However, Nedbank projects a 2.5-percent decline in gross fixed capital formation for 2024 due to the long lead time for project implementation. The general government sector leads with 393.3-billion-rand in plans, including major housing and water projects.

# Build One South Africa calls on Johannesburg’s incoming mayor to tackle two critical issues, the 200-rand monthly electricity surcharge and the outdated indigent registry. The party says removing the surcharge will ease the financial burden on residents while updating the registry is essential for ensuring vulnerable citizens receive free basic services. BOSA’s Ayanda Allie says the party is eager to work with the new administration to address these pressing concerns and improve service delivery: 

# Rugby: Salmaan Moerat will captain a new-look Springbok squad in Saturday’s second Test against the Wallabies in Perth. Head coach Rassie Erasmus made 10 changes to the starting line-up that thrashed Australia 33-7 in the first Test in Brisbane. Regular captain Siya Kolisi is among the players being rested. The only players left in the starting-15 are Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Elrigh Louw and Pieter-Steph du Toit. Lock Ruan Nortjé and scrumhalf Morné van den Berg will earn their first Test starts.

# The Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has reiterated the need for better compensation for athletes. Welcoming some members of Team SA at the OR Tambo International Airport, McKenzie congratulated the athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics. He emphasises that sport has the power to unite diverse communities, and urges government to remodel sports funding for athletes:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-754-dollars-26-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-463-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-2-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….