News 16:00

BULLETIN 27 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa seeks a meaningful deal with the US amid tensions
# Rugby: Felix Jones returns as assistant coac to the Springboks
# And births in Japan reach the lowest point since government starting tracking data in 1899

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says government wants to reach a meaningful deal with the US on diplomacy and trade, rather than having to explain its policies. In a conversation with Goldman Sachs’ vice chairperson Richard Gnodde in Johannesburg, the president addressed tensions over land-expropriation laws and their stance on Israel, which led to the US halting aid, and a 7.5-billion-rand shortfall in HIV programmes. Ramaphosa clarified no private land has been confiscated since apartheid ended:

Meanwhile, cabinet has reaffirmed its support for the African Union and United Nations resolutions aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It says diplomatic efforts, peacekeeping missions, and regional cooperation are essential to restore stability and protect civilians. In a media briefing, minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, urged all parties to work towards a peaceful solution and an end to hostilities:

# ActionSA has expressed deep concern over disturbing findings from a Parliamentary oversight visit to correctional facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. The report highlights rampant drug activity, poor security, and wasteful spending of taxpayer money. ActionSA’s Dereleen James has criticised Correctional Services minister Pieter Groenewald for his absence during these crucial visits, demanding he witnesses the situation firsthand. She calls for immediate action to restore discipline and ensure the correctional system serves its rehabilitative purpose.

# Rugby: Double World Cup-winning Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones will reunite with national coach Rassie Erasmus in one of the six assistant coaching positions following a short stint with England. Erasmus unveiled Jones and two other new additions. Lance Lemmetjies will join the medical team as one of two physiotherapists from June, and Robyn Moore will be the team dietician from 1 April. Jones joins the team this weekend.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-199-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-995-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Births in Japan hit another record low last year, falling for the ninth straight year as young people delay marriage while the elderly population rises. The numbers highlight the dramatic demographic challenges facing the world’s fourth-biggest economy, where a shrinking workforce is having to shoulder the costs of caring for a ballooning elderly population. In 2024 births were down five-percent compared to 2023. The number of births shrank to the lowest since government started tracking the data in 1899. Deaths were more than double the number of births.

Stay tuned for more news………….