News 11:00

BULLETIN 17 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A probe reveals details around the Secretary to Parliament’s salary package
# The public is urged not to speculate about the cause of the George building collapse
# And the UN chief says any assault on Rafah is unacceptable

# Daily Maverick’s investigative unit, Scorpio, has revealed that Secretary to Parliament Xolile George’s salary package is 92-percent more than the legal parameters for the position. He was appointed on a 2.6-million-rand annual salary in 2022, in line with the job advertisement, but it was increased to 4.4-million-rand and now allegedly amounts to five-million-rand. Scorpio says evidence suggests George had a direct hand in writing his contract. National Council of Provinces chairperson, Amos Masondo, says there is nothing unethical or unlawful in what transpired.

# Tax Justice SA’s founder, Yusuf Abramjee, says the recent judgment by the High Court in Pretoria is yet another gift for the illicit tobacco barons. The court has barred the South African Revenue Service from implementing a new rule that allows it to install CCTV cameras at tobacco-manufacturing warehouses. Abramjee says illicit cigarette trade is robbing the South African economy of 27-billion-rand in tax revenue annually, or about 74-million-rand every day:

# The George Municipality says speculation over possible causes of last week’s building collapse by unofficial experts could negatively impact the official investigation. The five-storey apartment block folded, trapping 81 construction workers under the rubble. Thirty-three deaths have been confirmed, while 19 people are still unaccounted for. The municipality’s spokesperson, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, says the Department of Labour and Employment will take over the site soon to continue its formal investigation:

# United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says a full-scale assault on Rafah in Gaza would be catastrophic, as nothing justifies the collective punishment of Palestinians. Around 600-thousand people, one-quarter of Gaza’s population, have now been forcibly displaced from Rafah in the last week amid ongoing Israeli military activity. Guterres has reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages still held in Gaza:

# Golf: American Xander Schauffele holds a three-shot lead after the opening round of the PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. He posted the first 62 round in PGA Championship history and just the fourth ever in a men’s major. His compatriots Tony Finau and Sahith Theegala sit in a tie for second on six under. Another American Brooks Koepka opened his title defence with a four-under 67.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-15-cents and the euro at 19-rand-72-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-75-dollars-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-386-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 83-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….