News 17:00

BULLETIN 3 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Pemmy Majodina’s pronunciation mishap sparks laughter in Parliament
# Giwusa says the fuel price drops are insufficient to offset long-term increases
# And rugby: Jaco Peyper wants to build respect for referees

# President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new government of national unity has been inaugurated in Cape Town. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo oversaw the swearing-in ceremony where deputy president Paul Mashatile, 32 ministers and 43 deputies took their oaths. During the ceremony, Water and Sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina’s attempt to pronounce the word conscientiously sparked laughter in Parliament, with Zondo eventually helping her: 

# General Industries union Giwusa argues while the recent fuel price decreases offer temporary relief, they are inadequate to counteract the long-term trend of rising fuel costs. The union believes the increases have made fuel expensive and inaccessible for many. They call for the nationalisation of the petrochemicals industry to ensure sustainable and affordable clean fuels. Giwusa’s Koketso Phasha criticised current regulations for prioritising profits over public welfare:

# Britain’s political leaders made a final push for votes today on the last day of an election campaign expected to return a Labour government after 14 years of Conservative rule. Voters will cast ballots from tomorrow morning, with polls predicting that Labour will win its first general election since 2005, making its leader Keir Starmer prime minister. That outcome would see Britain swing leftwards back to the centre ground after almost a decade and a half of right-wing Conservative governments.

# Rugby: After 21 years as a referee, Jaco Peyper’s retirement from rugby lasted just two weeks. He helped the Springboks during last year’s World Cup in France and is now full-time in the newly created role of SA Rugby’s national laws advisor. A big focus point for Peyper is on reducing preventable penalties. The 44-year-old says it is a role that will develop and become more detailed:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-48-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-132-dollars-27-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-350-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

# And finally: SANParks is collaborating with various stakeholders to protect the critically endangered Knysna sand fynbos. Spokesperson JP Louw says in partnership with landowners and the Western Heads-Goukamma Conservancy, amongst others, SANParks aims to conserve the remaining one-thousand-478 hectares of the Knysna sand fynbos. The land faces threats from development and climate change. The initiative, funded by the Table Mountain Fund, promotes biodiversity stewardship and the eradication of invasive plants.

Stay tuned for more news………….