News 17:00

BULLETIN 25 August 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Airports Company South Africa records a 1.1-billion-rand net profit for the previous financial year
# Four journalists are among 20 people who died in an Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza
# And cricket: The Proteas Women start their World Cup preparations in Durban

# The Airports Company South Africa posted a record net profit of 1.1-billion-rand for the year ending 31 March, more than double last year’s 472-million-rand. CEO Mpumi Mpofu spoke at the release of ACSA’s annual financial performance. Mpofu says strong revenue growth of 13-percent to 7.9-billion-rand, disciplined cost management, and capital expenditure of 861-million-rand reinforced ACSA’s commitment to airport infrastructure, operational excellence, and driving economic growth:

# Business Leadership South Africa says the allocation of rail slots to eleven private operators is a key step for the country’s freight logistics plan, but urges sustained momentum for success. In her weekly newsletter, CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said the move, which involves collaboration with Transnet, could increase freight volumes, reduce logistics costs, alleviate road congestion, and create employment opportunities. Mavuso emphasised that swift implementation, aligned with port and border improvements, is crucial for an efficient and growth-driving logistics system.

# City Power in Johannesburg has recorded its best performance in over five years, achieving 88-percent of its targets from January to March this year, despite rising electricity costs, theft, and vandalism. The utility connected three-thousand-539 homes to electricity and installed over one-thousand public lights, rolled out smart meters, and integrated renewable energy projects. City Power’s Isaac Mangena says the utility will continue strengthening service delivery and modernising Johannesburg’s electricity network:

Moving abroad:

# At least 20 people, including four journalists, were reportedly killed in today’s Israeli strikes on a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. A Reuters cameraman and an Associated Press journalist were among the victims at Nasser Hospital, while another is reported to have worked for Al Jazeera. Several people were killed in the initial strike, and others in a second which happened as rescuers attended the scene. This comes two weeks after six journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli attack near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

# Cricket: The Proteas Women are convening in Durban for a week-long camp from today to fine-tune ahead of next month’s Women’s World Cup in India. Veteran wicket-keeper Sinalo Jafta says the conditions in Durban mirror those on the subcontinent, helping the team to adjust. Having last played competitively in the Caribbean, they now aim to sharpen roles, technical skills, and strategy. Jafta emphasises the need for fearless, high-level cricket in the 50-over tournament.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-57-cents and the euro at 20-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-73-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-632-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-363-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-77-cents a barrel. 

Stay tuned for more news………….