News 14:00

BULLETIN 10 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Constitutional Court rejects pleas to postpone the elections 
# AfriForum condemns the Hate Speech Act
# And tennis: The runner-up in the Wimbledon’s girls singles tests positive for a prohibited stimulant 

# The Constitutional Court has dismissed the applications of the African Congress for Transformation, Labour Party of South Africa, and Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats to postpone the elections. The parties had approached the court after missing the deadline to submit their candidate lists, citing a malfunction in the Electoral Commission’s online portal. The court ruled the parties had failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for a postponement and that delaying the elections would be costly. The IEC argued its online system was functional and a postponement would cost the country almost 600-million-rand.

# The United Independent Movement is calling for the removal of Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga. They support the African Christian Democratic Party in opposing the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill. The movement stands firm in safeguarding parental rights, children’s well-being, and the integrity of education. UIM vice president Fatima Abdool criticised the government’s attempt to exclude parents from their role in parenting and education:

# AfriForum has strongly criticised government’s approval of the Hate Speech Act. Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl, warns of potential abuses facilitated by the legislation, and says it infringes upon citizens’ freedom of expression. According to Van Zyl the act broadens the definition of harm, diluting constitutional rights, and exacerbating hate speech against marginalised groups. He is concerned over unequal treatment based on speech content because of government’s bias:

# Tennis: The runner up in last year’s girls’ singles competition at Wimbledon was provinsionally suspended. Czech player Nikola Bartunkova tested positive for a prohibited stimulant in tournaments in Slovakia and Slovenia earlier this year. This is the same substance found in positive tests for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva and 23 Chinese swimmers preparing for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Eighteen-year-old Bartunkova isn’t allowed to play before her disciplinary hearing.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-936-dollars-77-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-373-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Cyril Ramaphosa has expresses deep sadness over the death of retired Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro. The esteemed jurist, a Member of the Order of the Baobab, passed away yesterday following complications from a vehicle accident in April last year. The president recognised her immense contributions to law and justice. He says the 73-year-old’s legacy pioneered women’s positions in South Africa’s legal landscape. She has been hailed as a defender of justice, human dignity and the Constitution.

Stay tuned for more news………….