News 15:00

BULLETIN 15 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cabinet rejects the US refugee status for Afrikaners and calls the narrative misleading
# SCOPA urges government action to prevent the collapse of the SABC
# And motorsport: Major upgrades are expected for McLaren for this weekend’s race in Imola

# Cabinet has slammed the decision by the US to grant refugee status to some Afrikaners, calling claims of persecution unfounded and misleading. According to the cabinet, the decision undermines South Africa’s constitutional democracy and misrepresents the country’s human rights record. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told the media the government will engage diplomatic channels to challenge the US decision:

Meanwhile, minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, says the withdrawal of US funding to support HIV/AID will not collapse the fight against the epidemic in the country. He was providing an update on the progress made to mitigate the impact of funding withdrawal by US government on the country’s response to HIV/AIDS and TB programmes. Motsoaledi says of the 46.8-billion-rand allocated to HIV/AIDS funding, only 7.9-billion-rand comes from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief:

# Parliament’s standing committee on Public Accounts has emphasised the urgent need for government intervention to prevent the SABC from collapsing. The SABC requires approximately 7.5-billion-rand to fulfill its unfunded public service mandate. Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi highlighted the broadcaster’s financial instability, warning that without increased funding, it’s sustainability is at risk:

# The DA in the Eastern Cape says the provincial Department of Social Development delivered only nine batches food parcels to schools in the first quarter of this year. That includes two in January, and seven in March despite a 6.1-million-rand budget. The DA’s Marlene Ewers calls it a catastrophic failure amid deepening hunger. She demands an urgent audit and monthly reporting, warning that inaction is costing lives as malnutrition among children continues to rise.

# Motorsport: McLaren is expected to bring significant car upgrades to this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in Italy. The team has won five of the six races so far this season, and has a 105-point lead at the top of the constructors’ championship. But British driver Lando Norris, who trails his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri by 16 points in the drivers’ championship, has struggled with his car this season. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says he is hopeful the upcoming upgrades will make the car easier for Norris to drive.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-11-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-5-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-264-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-176-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-60-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….