News 15:00

BULLETIN 28 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Madlanga commission questions Johnson over Crime Intelligence fund allegations
# The Trade Commission recommends a higher duty on imported peanut butter
# And rugby: A pundit accuses the Springboks of underhanded tactics in Tests

# The Madlanga commission questioned the former head of the Investigating Directorate against Corruption, Andrea Johnson, about allegations of misuse of Crime Intelligence funds. She testified she was unaware of any investigations and such matters fall under the Hawks. Johnson adds any investigation into allegations raised by Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams would have been addressed by the directorate:

# The DA says delays in the Gauteng Education Department’s 2027 online admissions process for Grades 1 and 8 could trigger another learner placement crisis. Applications will open on 4 August and close on 5 September. The DA’s Sergio Isa dos Santos says they will conduct oversight visits to district offices to ensure every learner is placed before the 2027 school year. He calls for earlier application timelines:

# The International Trade Administration Commission has recommended increasing customs duties on imported peanut butter from 99-cents-per-kilogram to 25-percent according to value. The move follows after an investigation found rising imports, mainly from India, were hurting local manufacturers. ITAC says domestic production, sales and factory capacity have declined amid rising production costs. The commission has also launched an investigation into a temporary rebate on imported groundnuts to improve the competitiveness of South African peanut butter producers.

# Zimbabwean health and agriculture authorities have renewed warnings against the illegal practice of feeding antiretroviral medicines to chickens to speed up growth. According to Daily Maverick, officials caution the misuse of ARVs poses serious public health risks and could contribute to anti-microbial resistance. Experts have urged poultry farmers to follow approved farming practices instead of using human medication in livestock production. Authorities continue to educate farmers on safe poultry management and the dangers of drug misuse.

# Rugby: The Springboks have been accused of slowing down matches and using underhanded tactics to force stoppages to catch their breath and recover. Outspoken New-Zealand radio and podcast host, Mark Watson, predicts head coach Rassie Erasmus would do anything in his power to create stoppages and slow down the tempo when South Africa takes on the All Blacks in their upcoming Great Rivalry tour. Watson claimed on Sports Nations NZ no side in the world can keep up with the All Blacks’ fitness, athleticism and high tempo.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-79-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-398-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-30-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….