News 09:00

BULLETIN 18 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa urges voters to exercise their democratic right
# The FF Plus claims the failure to release crime stats is an election ploy
# And, soccer: Fifa promises a legal assessment after Palestine’s request to suspend Israel

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is calling on eligible voters to exercise their democratic right on 29 May. Ramaphosa emphasises the significance of the vote as it marks 30 years of democracy. The president highlights the right to vote is a cornerstone of South Africa’s democratic order, enshrined in the Bill of Rights. He states casting a vote demonstrates faith in democracy and influences the country’s future direction:

Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus has criticised Police minister, Bheki Cele for failing to release the latest quarterly crime statistics, calling it an embarrassment ahead of the elections. According to the party, the rising levels of violent crime, highlighted in the previous figures from February, are being concealed to protect the ANC’s image. FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald argues that withholding this information puts political interests above public safety, especially given the increase in violence against women and children.

# Eskom attributes 51 consecutive days without load-shedding to ongoing improvements in the reliability of its generation fleet. Spokesperson Daphne Mokoena credits the Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which includes accelerating planned maintenance, online preventative maintenance, major plant refurbishments, and life extension projects. Mokoena says these efforts have reduced unplanned maintenance and enhanced reliability. She assures that planned maintenance aligns with winter schedules, with generation performance surpassing this year’s winter forecast:

# Russian guided bombs killed at least three people and injured 28 in the northeastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv yesterday. Reuters reports Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, and the surrounding region, have long been targeted by Russian attacks. The strikes have become more intense in recent months, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of seeking to reduce the city to rubble. Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians but thousands have been killed and injured in its 27-months-long invasion of Ukraine.

# And, soccer: World governing body Fifa plans to carry out a legal assessment following Palestine’s request for the suspension of Israel’s federation because of the war in Gaza. The Palestinian federation made the call during yesterday’s congress in Bangkok, Thailand, and it was supported by Jordan. Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, says the body’s council will make the decision after the assessment, which he promised would be done urgently. The council plans an extraordinary congress in July to decide on the issue.

Stay tuned for more news………….