News 16:00

BULLETIN 17 July 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa calls for a stronger partnership between South Africa and Namibia
# AfriForum says consumers deserve answers on the electricity price hike
# And rugby: Marx is expecting a confrontational and physical battle against Wales

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa and Namibia must strengthen cooperation to drive economic growth and shared development. He co-chaired the fourth South Africa-Namibia bi-national commission in Pretoria with Namibian president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Ramaphosa described Namibia as South Africa’s sister nation, bound by a shared struggle for freedom. He says the success of the commission would be measured by implementing existing agreements to promote regional prosperity, stability and cooperation:

# AfriForum says it will continue its legal challenge against the energy regulator, Nersa, over Eskom’s additional 54-billion-rand electricity tariff increase. The urgent application was removed from the court roll and will now be heard in the High Court in Pretoria at a later date. AfriForum’s Dalena Beyers argues Nersa failed to provide reasons for approving the increase until just before the court hearing, raising concerns about transparency and the decision-making process:

# South African renewable resources company, Sappi, has joined the Roadmap to Zero programme created by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Foundation, aimed at eliminating harmful chemicals from the global fashion supply chain. Through its Sappi Verve brand, the company supplies dissolving wood pulp used to produce sustainable textile fibres. Sappi says the partnership will strengthen responsible chemical management, and improve supply chain transparency. The programme will also support collaboration with manufacturers and brands to promote safer, more sustainable textile production worldwide.

# Rugby: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx says they are bracing themselves for a confrontational and physical battle against Wales in their third and final home Nations Championship game in Durban tomorrow. When the two sides last met in November last year, Wales suffered their heaviest-ever home defeat of 73-0. Marx has shot down suggestions the Boks are the clear favourites, saying Wales is a tough side, regardless of their previous results:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-51-cents and the euro at 18-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-167-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-986-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Media Development and Diversity Agency has called on eligible community media organisations across South Africa to apply for financial support through its annual call for grant funding applications. This forms part of its ongoing efforts to transform South Africa’s media landscape and strengthen the community media sector. The agency encourages eligible community media organisations to apply, saying the grants are aimed at supporting a diverse, inclusive and sustainable community media environment. Applications will close at the end of this month.

Stay tuned for more news………….