News 15:00

BULLETIN 2 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA urges an investigation into the ANC’s alleged misuse of state funds for electioneering 
# Donald Trump says he is being targeted like in a Third World country 
# And: Rassie Erasmus receives an honorary doctorate from North West University 

# The DA has called on Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, to establish a steering committee to probe increasing reports of the ANC government’s misuse of state funds for election campaigns. Citing recent incidents and complaints, DA national spokesperson Solly Malatsi highlights excessive spending on launches, questioning the necessity for such expenses. He urges action to prevent further abuse of taxpayer money ahead of this month’s elections:

Meanwhile, the National Development and Labour Council is encouraging all workers who will work on election day to register for special votes before the closing date tomorrow. It also calls upon all employers to support and allow their employees to cast their votes in the elections. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says all employers must observe election day as a paid public holiday and, where possible, give workers the day off:

# Former US president Donald Trump blames his legal woes on the White House and claims he is being targeted like in a Third World country. He is heading back to court again today. The judge overseeing Trump’s trial for allegedly covering up payments to suppress details of an alleged affair will hear that Trump has again breached a gag order intended to protect trial participants. Trump was fined around 170-thousand-rand on Tuesday and warned that he could face jail for continuing to lash out on social media.

# SA Rugby’s director of rugby and Rugby World Cup-winning coach, Rassie Erasmus, has been awarded an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in Coaching Science by the North West University today. The institution says this acknowledges his leadership in the Springboks’ victorious 2019 and ’23 World Cup campaigns, his global coaching stature, and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. Erasmus is hailed for fostering unity and reconciliation, transcending backgrounds and beliefs in the nation.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-64-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-33-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-57-dollars-61-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-300-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-90-cents a barrel.

# And finally: In response to escalating debt servicing costs and the high cost of living, more South Africans are turning to collective buying to purchase homes. FNB has reported a 36-percent increase in loans disbursed for collective buying in the last six months, with up to 12 people able to buy a home together. Gauteng and the Western Cape lead in collective home buying, with affluent customers opting for this method for holiday and semigration properties. FNB’s Mfundo Mabaso noted this trend is particularly prevalent among affordable housing customers earning between three-thousand-500- and 29-thousand-600-rand per month.

Stay tuned for more news………….