News 18:00

BULLETIN 28 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The suspended PIC CEO Patrick Dlamini challenges his suspension in court
# The Institute of Race Relations warns the decline of infrastructure is stalling growth
# And, the Department of Science says innovation is the key to SADC Industrialisation

# Suspended Public Investment Corporation CEO Patrick Dlamini has launched an urgent application in the High Court in Pretoria to challenge his precautionary suspension. Dlamini argues the PIC board acted unlawfully by suspending him without properly considering the decision, and he learnt of his suspension through media reports. His suspension last week follows an anonymous whistleblower complaint. The PIC continues to face governance challenges linked to a decade-old investment in Lanseria Airport.

# The Institute of Race Relations says South Africa’s infrastructure failures are a major cause of the country’s weak economic growth. In a new report, economic policy analyst Anlu Keeve says unreliable water, electricity, rail, and port services are discouraging investment, raising business costs, and reducing tax revenue. The report argues that policy failures, poor maintenance, weak accountability, and ineffective procurement have driven the decline. She says restoring infrastructure requires better governance, routine maintenance, and reforms to support long-term economic growth.

# Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, has welcomed the confirmation of dates for the opening of the 2027 Gauteng online application period for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners. MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, announced that applications will open next Wednesday and close on the fourth of September. Makaneta has urged parents to use this opportunity to secure a space for their children as soon as possible for next year:

# The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation says innovation will be central to achieving industrialisation across the Southern African Development Community. Speaking to the SABC on the sidelines of the SADC’s Industrialisation Week in KwaZulu-Natal, Director-General Mlungisi Cele said science, technology and industrialisation must advance together. He emphasised investment in research, mathematics and science education, and mineral beneficiation to strengthen regional economies:

# Tennis: The Canadian Open is bleeding top players again, with many having withdrawn from next month’s tournament. World number one, Jannik Sinner of Italy, and number three, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, will again not travel to Montreal while other players such as Britain’s Jack Draper and Denmark’s Holger Rune will also be absent. Number one, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, reportedly won’t play in the women’s tournament in Toronto, while players such as Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic and Canadian Victoria Mboko are both injured.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-74-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-716-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-23-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 88-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….