News 16:00

BULLETIN 28 June 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A report finds consumers sacrifice essentials like electricity and food amid the severe cost-of-living crisis
# A laboratory service anticipates IT system stability mid-July after a cyber attack 
# And Rugby: The Boks gear up for ‘Ireland mode’ as Test week approaches 

# South African consumers are sacrificing essentials like electricity and food amid a severe cost-of-living crisis. With 46-percent unable to afford basic necessities each month and a projected household debt-to-income ratio of 65-percent for 2024, the situation is dire. According to Debt Rescue’s latest survey many have switched to gas and solar, while 40-percent pursue side hustles. Rising unemployment and escalating debt pressures underscore a precarious financial landscape worsened by recent economic challenges.

# The National Health Laboratory Service says it is working to restore its compromised IT system and infrastructure after a cyberattack. CEO Koleka Mlisana confirmed the breach affected data centres and took down the website. Mlisana told Newzroom Afrika that despite challenges, diagnostic services continue manually to public hospitals. She emphasised that built-in security measures are being implemented to prevent future attacks and expects stabilisation by mid-July:

#  The DA in the Eastern Cape is calling on the provincial legislature to debate the proposed relocation of the main seat of the High Court from Makhanda to Bisho. This follows recommendations by the Committee on the Rationalisation of areas under the jurisdiction of the Division of the High Court of South Africa and Judicial Establishments. The DA’s Vicky Knoetze says an estimated ten-thousand people stand to lose their jobs:

# France’s political forces will today make a final bid for votes in crunch elections that could see the far right take control of the government in a historic first. The campaigning period will end at midnight followed by a day off tomorrow, during which political activity is forbidden ahead of voting Sunday. Another week of campaigning will then lead up to the decisive second round on 7 July. The far-right National Rally is tipped to win the election, potentially giving the party the post of prime minister for the first time in its history.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and his team wrapped up their training camp today gearing up for ‘Ireland mode’ in preparation for the opening Test against their arch-rivals next Saturday at Loftus Versfeld. Erasmus was pleased with the structures put in place as the squad prepared to move into full Test match mode next week. They will return home for the weekend to spend time with their families and reassemble in Pretoria on Sunday. Erasmus will name his matchday team to face Ireland on Tuesday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 19-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-689-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-334-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….