News 08:00

BULLETIN 27 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The EFF says increasing the fuel levy is unconstitutional
# The Eastern Cape premier appeals for calm in Addo
# And a man is arrested after ploughing with a car into Liverpool fans

# The EFF has written to Finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, expressing its rejection to the proposed four-percent inflation-driven increase to the fuel levy. In his budget last week, the minister announced that from June 4th, the price of petrol will increase by 16-cents per litre and diesel by 15-cents per litre. The EFF says National Treasury should have instead pursued progressive alternative revenue sources or introduced a fiscal stimulus package. It adds that the decision to increase the fuel levy without tabling a money bill is unconstitutional.

# South Africa’s Water and Sanitation minister, Pemmy Majodina, will lead a delegation to the Third Pan-African Implementation and Partnership Conference on Water in Lusaka, Zambia today. The three-day conference, hosted under the African Union, focuses on climate-resilient water security. The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa says Majodina’s participation underscores South Africa’s commitment to water justice, African unity, and sustainable development aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and Vision 2025:

# Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has appealed for calm following violent attacks between foreign nationals and South Africans in the town of Addo. Three foreign nationals were murdered in revenge attacks in Addo, after a violent protest was sparked by the killing of a young South African man over the weekend. Provincial government spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie, says violence and retaliation have no place in communities and often serve to deepen division:

# Two people, one of them a child, have sustained serious injuries while 27 were taken to the hospital after a car ploughed into crowds at the Liverpool Football Club Premier League trophy parade in England. A 53-year-old British man has been arrested and is believed to be the driver of the vehicle. Merseyside police Assistant Chief Constable, Jenny Sims, says four people, three adults and one child, had to be removed from underneath the car:

# Tennis: Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz got his French Open title defence to a winning start, beating Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, to move to the second round. World number one Jannik Sinner of Italy defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5, while 2021 finalists Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas saw off Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. In the women’s draw, defending champion Poland’s Iga Swiatek claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramková. There were also wins for Britain’s Emma Raducanu and American Madison Keys.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-84-cents and the euro at 20-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-972-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-345-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-85-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….