News 16:00

BULLETIN 26 May 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Business Leadership SA urges government to fix the failing logistics system or risk choking economic recovery
# Minister Solly Malatsi reiterates connectivity is crucial for economic growth
# And cricket: Sixteen players will represent the Proteas Women during the white-ball tour of the West Indies

# Business Leadership South Africa urges government to urgently address the failing logistics system to avoid harming economic recovery. They warn that continued problems in ports, rail, and transport infrastructure are causing delays and increasing costs for businesses, threatening growth, investment, and job creation. In her weekly newsletter, the organisation’s CEO, Busisiwe Mavuso, calls for swift action and better coordination to improve efficiency, support trade, and ensure the economy can recover and grow sustainably.

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi says investment in the communication sector’s infrastructure is key to economic growth. Speaking at the 2025 Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium in Cape Town, Malatsi reiterated plans to expand broadband infrastructure to rural areas. He confirmed that the rollout of fourth- and fifth-generation wireless will expand connectivity while moderately phasing out second- and third-generation:

# Build One South Africa says the sharp rise in sexual crimes shows the urgent need to make the national sex offenders register public. The party states the police’s latest crime statistics show over 13-thousand sexual offences were reported, with contact cases up 21-percent. They want the register digitised and shared with schools and employers to protect the vulnerable. BOSA’s Roger Solomons believes public access to the register will help prevent repeat offences:

# Mineworkers union AMCU has strongly condemned Sibanye-Stillwater after 260 workers were trapped underground in its Kloof mine in Gauteng. The company has since confirmed that all miners have been rescued with no injuries reported. AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa insists that every operational mine shaft must legally have an escape route. The union is calling for Sibanye-Stillwater to be held accountable, stating that the incident highlights serious safety failures. He demands immediate investigation, emphasising that workers’ lives cannot be compromised.

# Cricket: Sixteen players were included in the Proteas Women’s squad for a white-ball tour of the West Indies. The team will play three one-day matches and three T20s in Barbados from the 11th of next month. Laura Wolvaardt will captain the group which sees the return of experienced Marizanne Kapp, and seamers Tumi Sekhukhune and Ayanda Hlubi. Allrounder Miané Smit will get the opportunity to make her T20 debut. The tour is used as preparation for the one-day World Cup starting in India on 29 September.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-85-cents and the euro at 20-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 109-thousand-753-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-330-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….