News 17:00

BULLETIN 28 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Parks Tau announces Sizekhaya Holdings as the new lottery operator
# Government calls for united action as teenage pregnancy rates remain alarmingly high
# And rugby: A Stormers coach says they don’t rely on just one extraordinary gifted player

# Trade, Industry and Competition minister Parks Tau has announced that Sizekhaya Holdings has been awarded the fourth national lottery and sports pools licence. This follows the successful conclusion of negotiations with the National Lotteries Commission. The department is seeking legal advice to appeal a recent judgment by the High Court in Pretoria related to the matter. Ministry spokesperson Yamkela Fanisi hopes the new operator will grow the lottery and increase support for those in need.

# Cape Forum is urging the court and media to highlight the role of drug abuse, especially tik, as the sentencing procedures of Kelly Smith and her co-accused continues at the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay. They were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking of Smith’s young daughter, Joslin. Cape Forum’s chairperson, Heindrich Wyngaard, says they plan a demonstration at the court, and argues that addressing tik abuse is crucial to preventing similar tragedies in future:

# The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is urging all sectors of society to unite in the fight against teenage pregnancy, as nearly 30-percent of teenagers have been pregnant. While this figure has decreased in recent years, it remains worryingly high, especially in rural provinces like Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape. The department’s Cassius Selala calls for honest conversations about sex education and increased access to contraception to break the cycle:

# French activists dyed a Paris fountain red to symbolise what they called the “bloodbath” of Palestinians in Gaza. Activists from Oxfam and Amnesty International poured dye into the “Fountain of Innocents” in the heart of the French capital, while others held placards saying “Cease fire” and “Gaza: stop the bloodbath”. Clemence Lagouardat, who helped coordinate Oxfam’s humanitarian response in Gaza, denounced the Israeli blockade of the besieged territory.

# Rugby: The Stormers aren’t sweating over the absence of experienced Springbok back player Damian Willemse for Friday night’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Glasgow Warriors in Scotland. He was given a three-match ban for his red card against Cardiff, which could be reduced to two if he attends World Rugby’s so-called tackle school. Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani says the team has improved tremendously over the past few weeks after a bad start to the season, and they don’t rely on just one extraordinary gifted player.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-93-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-819-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-309-dollars-84-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-42-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….