News 18:00

BULLETIN 22 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Standard Bank expects a possible interest rate hike this week
# The High Court rejects the use of defence photos in the Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala trial
# And, table tennis: Team South Africa is set to fly the flag high at the Commonwealth Championships in India

# Standard Bank expects the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to consider another interest rate increase when it meets this week. June inflation rose to five-percent from 4.5-percent in May, driven mainly by higher fuel prices and public transport costs, leaving inflation well above the Reserve Bank’s three-percent target. The bank’s Elna Moolman says any increase is likely to mark the peak of the current rate hiking cycle:

# The High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that defense lawyer Advocate Nardus Grove, representing accused number two, Tiego Floyd Mabusela at the Vusimusi Matlala trial, may not use still photographs taken to cross-examine State witness Bethwell Cele. The former security guard is testifying in the attempted murder trial linked to the 2022 shooting of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni. Judge Cassim Moosa upheld the State’s objection:

# The Public Servants Association welcomes the arrest of several suspects, including senior law enforcement officials, in connection with a 15-million-rand precious stones heist. The union’s Claude Naicker says the breakthrough highlights the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s role in combating corruption. Naicker called on IPID to be granted constitutional independence and urged the National Treasury to provide additional funding to strengthen its investigative and oversight capabilities.

# The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called on the US to lift Ebola-related travel restrictions on Uganda. Speaking at a conference in Accra, director-General Jean Kaseya said he had written to US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arguing there was no reason to maintain the measures. Uganda has reported no new Ebola infections for about a month, with its last patient discharged on July 16. The US restrictions also apply to travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

# Table tennis: The South African Table Tennis Board has announced the national team selected to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi, India, next week. Spokesperson Priya Ranchod says the prestigious championship will bring together the Commonwealth’s finest players, providing a world class platform for elite competition. She says South Africa sends a balanced squad, combining the enthusiasm of emerging young talent with the experience of seasoned players:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-42-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-642-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-150-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-62-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….