News 17:00

BULLETIN 9 July 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government addresses Ireland’s new visa requirements for South Africans
# The petroleum association calls for investment in local refineries
# And, the minister of Sport redirects funding away from superfan trips 

# International Relations minister Ronald Lamola and Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber are addressing Ireland’s new visa requirements for South Africans. Irish minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced the change due to an increase in asylum seekers from South Africa and Botswana, previously not requiring visas. The decision aligns Ireland with Schengen and UK policies. Lamola’s spokesperson, Crispin Phiri, confirmed that the Dublin visa office will set up a dedicated South African desk, and three visa application centres will be managed by VFS Global in South Africa.

# The South African Petroleum Industry Association has reiterated the need for capital investment in local refineries to meet the second clean fuels programme by 2027. Addressing a media roundtable discussion, Sapia head of strategy Kevin Baart emphasised that current price structures cannot fund the necessary investments. Baart assures the industry has managed supply risks effectively for 18 years. He also highligts the importance of cleaner fuels and emission reduction technologies.

# Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, is urging all parents and guardians of Grade R learners to apply for the 2025 online schools admission. Chiloane says the online admissions system will open on Thursday and close on 12 August for Grade 1 and 8 learners. Parents and guardians who wish to apply for other grades at a public school in Gauteng must apply directly at their identified schools and not on the department online admission system:

# The City of Tshwane’s Health Department is concerned about the continued rise in mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the metro. A total of 232 babies in Gauteng tested positive for HIV in the first six months of this year, with almost 40 of them from Tshwane. Mayoral committee member for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, says the department offers mother, women, and child health and nutrition programmes at its 24 primary healthcare clinics:

# Sport, Arts, and Culture minister, Gayton McKenzie has announced a halt to government financing for trips of sports superfans, citing financial constraints faced by athletes and artists. This decision follows controversy over the department’s sponsorship of Mama Joy Chauke and Botha Msila’s 1.3-million-rand trip to the Rugby World Cup in France last year. McKenzie aims to redirect funds to support struggling athletes and artists, shifting priorities away from funding fans’ travel and accommodation expenses. He argues taxpayers’ money should be used where it’s most needed. 

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-246-dollars-40-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-326-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-49-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….