News 15:00

BULLETIN 11 June 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Talks are apparently underway to appoint the IFP president as the second deputy president 
# Analysts advocate for allowing coalition processes to unfold before judicial intervention
# And an academic says South Africa desperately needs a culture of excellence

# IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa has been tipped as a second deputy president under a new government of national unity. According to News24, sources close to the negotiations indicate the speculation suggests Hlabisa could serve alongside Paul Mashatile. It would not be the first time as in 1994, former president FW de Klerk served alongside Thabo Mbeki as deputy president to the late Nelson Mandela.

Meanwhile, the independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego has labeled political parties’ call for Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s intervention in government formation as premature and lacking constitutional basis. They advocate for allowing coalition processes to unfold before judicial intervention. Parties, including the UDM and Build One SA, seek Zondo’s involvement in forming a government of national unity. However, constitutional norms grant Zondo intervention only if government formation fails within 14 days after the elections.

# South Africa desperately needs a culture of excellence in basic and higher education as it is the key to the country’s survival. This is according to outgoing University of Pretoria Council chairperson Kuseni Dlamini. He has served at the institution since 2012. Dlamini says university dropout rates in South Africa remain worryingly high and graduation rates are still far too low. He adds that despite the socio-economic crisis, the country’s 26-strong public university community has steered through many storms to get where they are today.

# Rugby: The Bulls are the last remaining local team in this year’s United Rugby Championship, and will host Irish giants Leinster at Loftus on Saturday. Leinster is seen as favourites by many. It is a team packed with international stars that have more test caps than the Bulls have URC caps. They are also desperate to claim silverware after losing in three successive Champions Cup finals. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says they are excited about the challenge: 

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-68-cents and the euro at 20-rand-5-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-51-dollars-73-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-306-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-46-cents a barrel

# And finally: Springbok legend Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira will support Stellenbosch University’s Annual Social Justice walk on Sunday. The event forms part of the #Action4Inclusion crowdfunding initiative, to help pay off student debt. The university’s spokesperson, Martin Viljoen, says this walk is testament to the power of unity, empathy, and action in bridging divides and building a community where all can belong:

Stay tuned for more news………….