News 18:00

BULLETIN 1 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Nobuhle Nkabane warns of deepening financial challenges as the US pulls funding from 13 universities
# The DA says 200 prostate cancer patients in Gauetng are missing and possibly dead
# And tennis: The third-seeded Jessica Pegula crashes out of Wimbledon in the first round

# Higher Education and Training minister Nobuhle Nkabane says the sector is under financial pressure after US funding to 13 universities was suddenly cut. Delivering the budget vote speech in the National Council of Provinces, Nkabane said the National Student Financial Aid Scheme will support over 800-thousand students this year with a budget of 49-billion-rand, set to grow to 51-billion-rand next year. She added a new board is working to fix governance issues and end payment delays:

South Africa has meanwhile requested more time to negotiate a trade deal with the US before a 31-percent tariff hike takes effect on Wednesday next week. The tariff, paused for 90-days by president Donald Trump’s administration, threatens key exports like autos, steel, and citrus. In a statement, Trade minister Parks Tau says South Africa aims to limit tariffs to ten-percent and offered to buy liquefied natural gas from the US in exchange. Talks are ongoing, with officials urging industry to remain patient as negotiations continue.

# UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has criticised the DA’s conduct in the government of national unity, calling their actions blackmail tactics. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Holomisa says if he were president, he would’ve removed the DA from government long ago, accusing them of violating agreements. He questions the DA’s refusal to attend the national dialogue, suggesting they’re not ready for governance:

# The DA in Gauteng says around 200 prostate cancer patients at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital are missing and possibly dead due to long delays in radiation treatment. This follows a written reply from Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, confirming a backlog of 800 patients, many of whom cannot be reached. The DA’s Jack Bloom says 250-million-rand meant for cancer treatment was not used, and urges premier Panyaza Lesufi to fire Nkomo-Ralehoko for gross negligence.

# Tennis: Third-seeded American Jessica Pegula crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round. She lost in straight sets to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who is currently 82nd in the world rankings. Coccioretto’s best run in Grand Slam tournaments so far had been in last year’s French Open, where she reached the fourth round, and at Wimbledon she reached the third round in 2023. The victory is the second over a top ten opponent in her career after she defeated Czech player Petra Kvitova at Roland Garros two years ago.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-61-cents and the euro at 20-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-29-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-350-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….