News 15:00

BULLETIN 5 June 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Zizi Kodwa resigns after being charged with corruption
# Thabo Bester demands the death sentence and alleges unfair treatment
# And cricket: India is looking to end an 11-year global trophy drought

# Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa and businessman Jehan Mackay, facing corruption charges, have been granted bail of 30-thousand-rand each by the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng. They are accused of a bribery scheme involving 1.6-million-rand. Both assert they are not flight risks. Kodwa announced his resignation as minister shortly after appearing in court. Magistrate Sheron Soko-Rantao postponed the case to 23 July for docket disclosure and pre-trial consultations:

# Convicted Facebook murder Thabo Bester has urged the High Court in Bloemfontein to order his death sentence and release his co-accused. In an outburst, Bester claimed an unfair justice system. Bester, former lover Nandipha Magudumana and seven others face charges including fraud, violating a body and harbouring an escaped convict. Meanwhile, Bester’s lawyer Mohamed Siedat has withdrawn, citing consultation difficulties. Bester alleged political interference is controlling court proceedings:

# Standard Bank CEO Sim Tshabalala is confident in South Africa’s institutions to ensure post-election stability and a potential market rally. He noted that despite the ANC’s vote share dropping to 40-percent, institutions like the Electoral Commission are effectively managing the situation. Tshabalala says South Africa’s historical post-election trends support a positive market outlook. He emphasises the geopolitical advantages, with both the US and China funding infrastructure projects, creating exciting prospects for the country’s economic development.

# The General Industries Workers Union demands the immediate nationalisation of the oil industry and refineries, placing them under the democratic control of the working class. Giwusa’s spokesperson, Koketso Phasha, says the current politically deployed leadership of the Central Energy Fund has failed. Phasha says they have argued before that the newly formed South African National Petroleum Company provides a real opportunity to tackle energy poverty and decarbonisation.

# Cricket: India will start its T20 World Cup campaign as one of the favourites at the tournament today. They will take on Ireland in New York. The cricketing giants are desperate for success at this tournament in the West Indies and the USA, since their global trophy drought stretches back to the 2013 Champions Trophy. Captain Rohit Sharma says they want to focus on the basics:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-89-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-886-dollars-71-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-334-dollars-2-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….