News 11:00

BULLETIN 1 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party says Workers’ Day stands as a powerful reminder of struggles and hard-won gains
# Advocate Batohi condemns the killing of a young district court prosecutor in the Eastern Cape
# And, Tennis: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiakek are through to the Madrid Open semis

# The GOOD Party says Workers’ Day is a powerful reminder of the struggles and hard-won gains of workers and the labour movement. The GOOD Party secretary-general, Brett Herron, says South Africa must also confront the urgent need for bold, inclusive economic reform that creates jobs, and supports small businesses. He says unless the country can achieve a sustained economic growth rate of five-percent, South Africa will not be able to meaningfully reduce unemployment:

# The National Assembly speaker, Thoko Didiza, reiterated Parliament’s readiness to process and adopt the revised Budget and Fiscal Framework swiftly and responsibly within the legally prescribed timeframe. The Speaker confirmed that Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, will table the revised Budget and Fiscal Framework in Parliament on 21 May. Didiza emphasised that every effort will be made to ensure that government operations continue seamlessly:

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi, has condemned the killing of young District Court prosecutor, Elona Sombulula. The 30-year-old joined the National Prosecuting Authority through the aspirant prosecutor programme in 2022. He was acting as Regional Court prosecutor at Ngcobo Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape when he was shot and killed on Tuesday evening. The NPA spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, says the police is working tirelessly to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

# President Donald Trump has asked for more time on the US economy as it contracted at an annual rate of 0.3-percent. This follows growth of 2.4-percent in the previous quarter and is stoking recession fears. However, the president blamed his predecessor Joe Biden for the disappointing numbers and said the figure was misleading because companies had stockpiled imports ahead of his imposition of tariffs. Trump’s import taxes have disrupted global trade and markets, with opinion polls indicating public discontent over his economic stewardship.

# And finally some tennis news: Last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka survived an onslaught by the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk to reach the Madrid Open semifinals for a fourth time on Wednesday. Sabalenka next takes on another Ukrainian in the form of Elina Svitolina, who is undefeated on clay this season and the first Ukrainian woman to reach the semifinals in Madrid. Meanwhile Iga Swiatek kept her Madrid Open title defence alive, with a victory over the American Madison Keys. She has now reached her third consecutive Madrid semifinal and will be up against Coco Gauff.

Stay tuned for more news………….