News 09:00

BULLETIN 20 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Defence Department rejects Mapisa-Nqakula’s request for assistance with her legal costs
# FlySafair criticises its competitors Lift and Airlink for trying to ground it
# And Tshwane warns its residents of possible violent protest action in Pretoria West today

# The Department of Defence and Military Veterans has rejected former National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s request to have her legal fees paid by the department. She is facing corruption charges for allegedly soliciting and accepting 2.5-million-rand in bribes from a contractor, while she was Defence minister. Mapisa-Nqakula is currently out on 50-thousand-rand bail. Defence minister Thandi Modise says thorough consideration with relevant authorities was taken in this matter:

# FlySafair has criticised competitors Lift and Airlink for trying to disrupt the airline’s operations by accusing it of breaching foreign ownership laws. Lift and Airlink have laid a complaint against FlySafair over a licence dispute. They claim the low-cost airline contravenes domestic ownership rules, as it does not have 75-percent South African ownership. The airline has a 25-percent foreign investor. FlySafair chief marketing officer, Kirby Gordon, told City Press that he does not see how the company’s external investor gives it any competitive advantage.

# The City of Tshwane is warning residents of a potentially violent protest in Hercules, Pretoria West, today. Protesters are reportedly intending to barricade roads and also attack businesses and electricity installations in the Hercules area, including the local police station. Mayoral committee member for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, says the planned protest is unlawful and they will not tolerate any criminal behaviour:

# The Democratic Republic of Congo’s armed forces repelled an attempted coup against president Felix Tshisekedi yesterday, killing the leader and arresting some 20 people including three American citizens. According to reports, the Americans are believed to be CIA operatives. The men occupied the Palais de la Nation, the office of the president, and attacked the house of Vital Kamerhe, the former chief of staff and close ally to Tshisekedi. The assailants have been linked to the New Zaire Movement connected to formerly exiled politician Christian Malanga.

# Golf: Xander Schauffele secured his maiden major victory by winning the PGA Championship by one shot. The American held off compatriot Bryson DeChambeau and Norway’s Viktor Hovland to triumph on 21 under at Valhalla in Kentucky. World number Scottie Scheffler of the US finished in tied-eighth and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy claimed a share of 12th after a four-under 67. Schauffele says he never lost confidence in his abilities:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-53-dollars-97-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-437-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….