News 11:00

BULLETIN 31 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Former president Mbeki pays tribute to the late freedom fighter Gertrude Shope
# Steinhoff fraud case moved to the High Court due to its complexity
# And tennis: Iga Swiatek reaches round 16 of French Open

# Former president Thabo Mbeki has paid tribute to the late freedom fighter, trade unionist and former Member of Parliament Gertrude Shope. Mbeki acknowledged her enduring legacy in South Africa’s liberation struggle. Mbeki emphasised the importance of honoring her memory by addressing current challenges and steering the nation toward the path of unity and equality for all South Africans. The 99-year-old is being laid to rest today in a special official funeral:

# The Steinhoff fraud case has been moved to the High Court due to its complexity, with the next hearing pushed to 3 September. Former Steinhoff executives, Stéhan Grobler Hein Odendaal and Iwan Peter Schelbert received extended bail at Pretoria’s Specialized Commercial Crimes Court. The prosecution is finalising investigations and awaiting key witness affidavits by mid-June. Grobler denies charges including racketeering, fraud and financial statement manipulation, worth 21-billion-rand. The scandal, dating back to 2017, remains one of South Africa’s largest corporate fraud cases.

# Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says Orion Minerals’ Prieska Copper-Zinc Mine will significantly boost economic development in the Northern Cape. During a site visit, Mantashe unveiled a commemorative plaque and highlighted the mine’s potential to create jobs and uplift local businesses. He emphasised that the project aims to start production within 13 months, targeting 22-thousand-tonnes of copper and 65-thousand-tonnes of zinc annually through a phased development strategy:

# The DA urges the Department of Social Development to take urgent action after the Alcohol Harm Research Centre in the Northern Cape was shut down. The party warns that without the centre, efforts to address alcohol-related problems will weaken, putting communities at greater risk. The DA’s Karen Jooste calls on the government to prioritise support for alcohol harm prevention and treatment services in the province:

# Tennis: Defending champion Iga Swiatek’s quest for a fourth straight French Open title stayed on track yesterday.  The top seed from Poland  stretched her Paris winning streak to 24 with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Romanian Jaqueline Cristian to reach the Round of 16 for the seventh year running. Meanwhile, in the men’s competition Carlos Alcaraz survived a scare to book his place in the last 16 yesterday. Second seed Alcaraz won 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 against 69th-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur. A relieved Alcaraz came from a break down in the fourth set to seal victory.

# And finally, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, is calling on aspiring conservationists to enroll in the newly accredited National Diploma programme at the Southern African Wildlife College in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. George hailed the course as a gamechanger, saying it empowers youth to combat poaching and protect biodiversity. The college now offers a nationally recognised qualification, reinforcing its leadership in wildlife management education and aligning with efforts to create sustainable jobs while preserving South Africa’s natural heritage.

Stay tuned for more news………….