News 11:00

BULLETIN 5th May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says government will continue to use the labour laws to correct the imbalances of the past
# The DA says Cape Town’s credit rating upgrade is proof of good governance and service delivery
# And Donald Trump wants Alcatraz reopened to house ruthless and violent offenders

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says over the past 31 years government has made considerable progress in improving labour laws and protecting the rights of workers. In his weekly newsletter, he says the country’s labour laws are part of an effort to overcome the structural inequality of apartheid. Ramaphosa emphasises that stimulating economic growth and job creation, and retaining worker protections, are not mutually exclusive. He adds that the latest Employment Equity Commission report shows much more work is needed to end the race-based disparities that exist in the economy.

# ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has dismissed reports of a revolt by some members of the party’s parliamentary caucus. According to City Press, caucus members confronted Mbalula during a meeting on Friday, demanding that the DA be expelled from the government of national unity. Briefing the media after a by-election campaign in Freedom Park, Soweto, Mbalula said the caucus does not take decisions on behalf of the ANC:

# The DA says the City of Cape Town’s credit rating upgrade from Moody’s is an endorsement of the metro’s sound financial management and commitment to real, impactful service delivery. The rating agency’s assessment characterised the metro’s financial management as strong, praising its good governance and ambitious infrastructure plans. The DA’s national spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, says Cape Town will invest 23-billion-rand in infrastructure over the next two years to enhance resilience:

# US president Donald Trump says he has directed the Bureau of Prisons to reopen and expand Alcatraz to house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders. Once notorious as one of America’s toughest prisons, Alcatraz closed in 1963 and currently operates as a tourist site. On a post on Truth Social, Trump says they will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and judges who are afraid to do their job and allow the government to remove criminals who come into the country illegally.

# Golf: World number one Scottie Scheffler put on a dominant performance to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas, his first victory of the year. The American carded an eight-under-par 63 to finish on 31 under, eight clear of South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen, to capture his 14th PGA Tour title. Van Rooyen matched Scheffler’s 63 to finish at 23 under, three shots ahead of American Sam Stevens. Scheffler was full of praise for van Rooyen:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 20-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-39-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-637-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-263-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….