News 18:00

BULLETIN 12 September 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA leader warns of a potential exit from the government if economic or constitutional threats persist
# The US supports two permanent Security Council seats for Africa and a rotating seat for small island states
# And Cricket South Africa turns a deficit of 538-million-rand into a profit of 815-million-rand

# The DA has threatened to exit the government of national unity if economic or constitutional threats persist. The party warns it may withdraw if the government fails to address economic challenges or constitutional rights. Party leader John Steenhuisen told the Cape Town Press Club the healthcare system faces potential long-lasting damage due to some aspects of the National Health Insurance: 

Meanwhile, president Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the need for public infrastructure development to drive service delivery and economic growth. Speaking at the National Council of Provinces, he highlighted plans to scale up infrastructure investment, noting delays and abandoned projects hurt communities. Ramaphosa pointed to the 2019 Infrastructure Development Act as a key tool guiding the national infrastructure plan for 2050:

# The United States will announce its support for two permanent United Nations Security Council seats for African states and a rotating seat for small island developing states. This proposal aims to address calls for Security Council reform and improve relations with Africa and Pacific Island nations. US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield says while Washington backs expanding membership, it opposes extending veto powers. UN secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for Security Council reform to enhance its legitimacy and effectiveness.

# Cricket: The hugely successful SA20 helped Cricket South Africa make a profit of 815-million-rand in the 2023/24 financial year. That tournament alone swelled CSA’s coffers by 54-million-rand. The body also benefitted from two Tests, three one-day games and three T20s against India over December and January. The good news follows total losses of 538-million-rand in the previous three years. ESPN-Cric-info reports the turnaround was mostly due to increased revenue from broadcast rights, which constitute 54-percent of CSA’s income.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-88-cents and the euro at 19-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-942-dollars-96-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-543-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-71-cents a barrel.

# And finally, an American ultra-endurance cyclist has claimed a new world record for the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe by bike. Lael Wilcox took 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes to cycle 29-thousand-169-kilometres. The 38-year-old Wilcox from Alaska cycled up to 14 hours a day on her journey, which will now be verified for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records. She set off in Chicago on 28 May, crossing 21 countries on four continents before arriving back in the American city.

Stay tuned for more news………….