News 18:00

BULLETIN 17 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa defends democratic progress in South Africa
# Britain wants to lower the voting age in general elections to 16
# And rugby: The Junior Boks’ team is unchanged for the Championship final against New Zealand

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s democracy has made meaningful progress since 1994, with improvements in education, healthcare, housing and land reform. Responding to the Presidency’s budget vote debate, Ramaphosa reaffirmed government’s commitment to constitutional principles and the work of the government of national unity. He called on members of Parliament to support the budget, citing it enables delivery, builds a capable state and sustains economic and democratic reforms:

# The National Prosecuting Authority has filed a notice of appeal at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court following the decision to grant bail to 12 SANDF soldiers accused of killing Hawks investigator Frans Mathipa. The soldiers were granted ten-thousand-rand bail each. The NPA’s Phindi Mjonondwane says the NPA awaits the court transcript before proceeding to apply directly to the High Court. The case has been postponed to 17 September.

# Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago says Africa’s priorities including climate change, cross-border payments, and high capital costs remain central at the G20, despite tariffs talks. The G20 talks on tariffs began today amid rising global tension over US tariffs and currency debates. Speaking to Reuters in Zimbali, KwaZulu-Natal, Kganyago said African central banks aim to ease trade by enabling cross-border payments. He emphasised the agenda is not anti-American, but pro-Africa:

# The British government says it plans to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections. The change in voting age is likely to prove contentious, with critics previously arguing it is self-serving as newly-enfranchised teenagers are seen as more likely to support the centre-left Labour party. The government will have to bring legislation before Parliament, where it has a comfortable majority, to make the changes. Only a small number of countries allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections. They include Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Cuba.

# Rugby: The Junior Springboks have named an unchanged match-23 for Saturday evening’s much-anticipated World Rugby Under-20 Championship final against New Zealand in Rovigo, Italy. Lock Riley Norton will once again lead a side that has featured in most of the pool matches, as well as Monday’s semi-final victory over Argentina. The bench will again feature a 6-2 split. This is the Junior Boks’ first appearance in the final since 2014, and a repeat of the 2012 final when South Africa beat New Zealand. Kick-off is at 8.30 pm.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-86-cents and the euro at 20-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-95-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-498-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-327-dollars-56-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….