News 17:00

BULLETIN 29 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Reserve Bank cuts the repo rate by 25-basis points
# Retired judge Sisi Khampepe is to lead a commission into delays in apartheid crimes investigations
# And rugby: Three South African URC teams face their biggest task of the season in the quarter-finals

# Some good news for debt-ridden South Africans: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank announced a cut of 25-basispoints in the repo rate to 7.25-percent. This means the prime lending rate will be cut to 10.75-percent.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe to lead a judicial commission of inquiry into delays in investigating and prosecuting apartheid-era crimes. The inquiry will examine whether attempts were made to interfere with, or halt investigations into cases identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission, which includes Judge Frans Kgomo and Advocate Andrea Gabriel, has six months to complete its work to provide justice and closure for victims and their families.

# The minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says crime remains a major problem, with murder cases dropping but sexual offences, including rape, going up. Ntshavheni says cabinet commended police for swift arrests in high-profile gender-based violence cases, including that of Wits University student Olorato Mongale. She adds government plans to reintroduce specialised police units and boost crime-fighting tools and training:

# The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the life sentences handed to Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn in the disappearance of Smith’s young daughter, Joslin, on the Cape West Coast in February last year. NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila says the Western Cape High Court’s ruling is a rare but historic conviction for trafficking for exploitation. He says the sentences, handed down during Child Protection Week, sends a strong message that prioritise the rights and protection of children:

South Africa’s commemoration of National Child Protection Week highlights children’s rights under the Constitution and Children’s Act. Since 1997, the campaign has aimed to raise awareness and stop abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Led by the Department of Social Development with support from civil society and government, the week seeks to make a call to action that protecting children is a shared responsibility to end the cycle of harm towards them.

# Rugby: South Africa’s three United Rugby Championship quarter-finalists face their biggest task of the season as they line up against top opposition in the quarter-final of the cross-hemisphere series, where victories will be non-negotiable to advance to the semi-final. The Stormers probably face the toughest task of them all as they travel to Scotland to face the defending champions, Glasgow Warriors, tomorrow night. The Bulls and Sharks have the luxury of home ground advantage against Edinburgh in Pretoria and Munster in Durban on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-78-cents and the euro at 20-rand-17-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-271-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-318-dollars-4-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….