News 18:00

BULLETIN 24 June 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu urges the ANC to recognise the election results as a wake-up call 
# Concern over an increase in underage gambling 
# And athletics: Sha’Carri Richardson makes the Olympics with the fastest 100-metres of the year

# Cosatu calls on the ANC to recognise voter discontent in the election results as a clear signal to improve its performance. The federation pledges to hold the government of national unity accountable, working closely with alliance partner the South African Communist Party. General secretary Solly Phetoe anticipates president Cyril Ramaphosa will consult alliance partners on the forming of the seventh administration’s cabinet:

# The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation is concerned over the increase in underage gambling. Increased access and the false allure of easy money has made soccer-crazy South African youngsters vulnerable to gambling’s harmful effects. Executive director Sibongile Simelane-Quntana says mobile gambling and betting companies now target Gen Z and millennials. The foundation has seen a trend of 18- to 35-year olds battling addiction:

# The Universal Basic Income Coalition is concerned over increasing digital barriers to accessing the social relief of distress grant. The coalition claims the South African Social Security Agency is using suspected fraud as a reason to complicate grant access. Many beneficiaries face suspension and must undergo complex online biometric verification. The coalition also criticises SASSA’s lack of transparency and the undue burden on vulnerable individuals. It calls for accountability and clear communication from SASSA.

# Athletics: Sha’Carri Richardson has secured her place at the Games in Paris, winning the women’s 100-metres at the US Olympic trials. The 24-year-old world champion claimed victory in 10.71-seconds, which is the fastest time in the world this year, to qualify for her first Olympics. Richardson won the 100-metres at the US Olympic trials three years ago but did not compete at the Tokyo Games after testing positive for marijuana.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-540-dollars-67-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-329-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

# And finally: South African employees are among the happiest in the world, showing higher levels of engagement and enthusiasm compared to the global average. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report, 29-percent of South African employees are engaged at work, surpassing the global average by six-percent. This is attributed to strong labour rights and positive work experiences. High engagement boosts productivity, retention, and customer service, reflecting positively on business outcomes. Despite challenges like daily stress, 56-percent of employees show decreasing levels of dissatisfaction and actively seek new jobs.

Stay tuned for more news………….