News 16:00

BULLETIN 1 August 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC affirms its leadership role in national governance post-elections
# South Africa notes a decline in the number of liquidated businesses
#And, the British prime minister convenes an emergency meeting after violent protests

# The ANC has affirmed its leadership role in national governance following the elections. At the first post-election national executive committee meeting in Ekurhuleni, secretary general Fikile Mbalula emphasised the ANC’s commitment to respecting constitutional democracy. The meeting will focus on socio-economic interests and national transformation. Mbalula says the NEC will review election outcomes, the party’s state, and future programmes, with the ANC leading the government of national unity efforts:

# South Africa has recorded a decline in the number of liquidated businesses. According to Statistics SA data, liquidations decreased by 5.5-percent in June. This is a decline of seven liquidations from a total of 128 liquidations compared to the same period last year. Survey Statistician Suzzie Mnguni says in the first six months of the year the total number of company closures was 759:

# Home Affairs will not investigate Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina unless a formal complaint is filed. The 23-year-old law student, born in Soweto, faces scrutiny if she should represent South Africa, as her father is Nigerian. She is now amongst the top 11. Deputy minister Njabulo Nzuza confirmed to the SABC that no request for intervention has been received:

# A night of violence in three British cities has forced prime minister Keir Starmer to convene an emergency meeting with police leaders today. Far-right elements have staged protests since a mass stabbing in the seaside town of Southport on Monday in which three little girls were killed. Protests rocked London and the northern cities of Hartlepool and Manchester last night, with over 100 people arrested in the capital. Social media misinformation about the identity and background of the 17-year-old suspect led to protesters targeting a local mosque.

# Olympic Games: Simone Biles bids to write another chapter in her historic Olympic story by recapturing the all-around gymnastics title today. The US star steps back into the spotlight seeking to become the first woman ever to regain the Olympic all-around title after she famously withdrew in Tokyo. The 27-year-old returned to the top of the podium on Tuesday with team gold, her eighth Olympic medal, five of them gold, to become the most decorated US Olympic gymnast.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-29-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-814-dollars-13-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-443-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….