News 08:00

BULLETIN 14 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government says it is prioritising inclusive economic growth and job creation
# The DA says Panyaza Lesufi’s apology to cancer patients won’t bring back lost lives
# And an Israeli air strike on a hospital in Gaza kills 28 people

# Government says Statistics South Africa’s latest quarterly labour force survey results for quarter one of 2025 is a reminder of the ongoing challenges in the labour market. Unemployment figures increased to 32.9-percent in the first quarter of this year, and close to 300-thousand jobs were lost between January and March in comparison to the fourth quarter of last year. The government says the seventh administration is prioritising inclusive economic growth, job creation, and structural reform. It adds that it is working with the business sector to unlock investment.

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party says the latest quarterly labour force survey confirms what South Africans already feel in their homes, that unemployment is getting worse, not better. The unemployment rate of 32.9-percent translates to 8.2-million citizens being officially unemployed. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says the country is not just facing an unemployment crisis, it’s facing a crisis of dignity:

# DA Gauteng Health spokesperson Jack Bloom has criticised premier Panyaza Lesufi’s apology for delays in cancer treatment. Bloom highlights that 250-million-rand allocated for radiation therapy was returned unspent, despite over two-thousand patients awaiting treatment. He compared the crisis to the Life Esidimeni tragedy, citing negligence. He calls for the dismissal of Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and Head of Department, Lesiba Malotana:

# An Israeli air strike has killed 28 people and injured dozens at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. According to reports, the target of the strike was senior Hamas figure Mohammed Sinwar, who is believed to have taken command of the group’s military wing. The Israeli military says it had conducted a precise strike on Hamas terrorists in a command and control centre, which it claimed was beneath the hospital. It adds that it also intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza, which Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for.

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner passed a big test on his return from a three-month doping ban as he beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, 7-6, 6-3, to reach the Italian Open quarterfinals. The Italian will next face Norwegian Casper Ruud or Spain’s Jaume Munar. Defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany saw off France’s Arthur Fils, 7-6, 6-1, while another Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, knocked out Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, 7-5, 6-4. In the women’s draw, American Peyton Stearns defeated Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6, to make the semifinals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-49-cents and Bitcoin trades at 103-thousand-647-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-329-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….