News 18:00

BULLETIN 20 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa urges business to invest as economic reforms continue
# The Hawks have only half the staff they need
# And, rugby: Gary Teichman says the Boks are in good shape to avenge the 1996 series defeat against the All Blacks

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged businesses to increase investment as the government continues with economic reforms aimed at boosting growth and creating jobs. Speaking at the launch of phase three of the government-business partnership in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said the government must provide policy certainty, efficient regulation, reliable infrastructure and capable institutions, while businesses must expand production, develop local suppliers, open new markets and create employment:

# South Africa’s elite Hawks crime-fighting unit is operating with about two-thousand-515 vacancies, including roughly one-thousand-500 vacant investigative posts. Acting Hawks head Siphesihle Nkosi told Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts that skilled investigators are difficult to retain because they can find better opportunities elsewhere. MPs were also concerned about the length of investigations and the number of cases that the National Prosecuting Authority declines to prosecute. Nkosi told SCOPA the Hawks have advertised 315 posts to try to recruit experienced investigators.

# The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa has noted the latest inflation figures released by Statistics South Africa. The figures show that annual headline inflation cooled to 4.3-percent in July, down from 5.0-percent in June. GIWUSA president, Mametlwe Sebei says while this slowdown driven by lower fuel costs, softer food price inflation, and smaller municipal tariff increases offers some respite, he maintains that the cost-of-living crisis facing workers and poor households remains severe:

# Rugby: Former Springbok captain Gary Teichman believes the current Bok squad is in the best position possible to avenge his team’s series defeat to the All Blacks 30 years ago. New Zealand won 2-1 in 1996 for their first-ever series triumph in South Africa. The first of four Tests takes place at Ellis Park on Saturday. Teichman says coach Rassie Erasmus has built a strong squad that can beat New Zealand:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-16-cents against the rand and the euro at 18-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-2-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-611-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-480-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally, a rare Christmas card dating back to 1910 has been discovered at an Antiques Roadshow in Britain and was valued at around 55-thousand-rand. The card is linked to the women’s suffrage movement and offers a glimpse into how campaigners used everyday items to promote their cause. The card was brought to the roadshow by its owner, who had apparently not realised just how unusual it was. Experts have now highlighted its historical significance, and is a reminder that even Christmas cards can offer a fascinating window into social and political history.

Stay tuned for more news………….