News 06:00

BULLETIN 2 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party slams a nine-billion-rand energy tender
# Forum for South Africa calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty
# And motorsport: Oscar Piastri wins the Spanish Grand Prix

# The MK Party has slammed a recent nine-billion-rand tender under the Battery Energy Storage Programme, calling it rigged and corrupt. Only Mulilo and Scatec won bids, prompting MK’s demand for bid records within seven days. MK Party’s national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela cites former Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer’s ties to Mulilo, and alleged foreign capture of SA’s energy. He calls for a full parliamentary inquiry into the tender process:

# Forum for South Africa has formally submitted a proposal to Parliament, urging the review of Section 11 of the Constitution to allow for the reintroduction of the death penalty. The Forum’s Tebogo Mashilompane argues that rising murder rates, especially targeting women and children, demand harsher consequences. Citing public support and rising crime, he says the Constitution must reflect 2025 realities, not 1996 ideals, to better protect victims over perpetrators:

# The Gauteng police say they are looking for three suspects in connection with the killing of IFP deputy chief whip Khethamabala Petros Sithole. He was killed in a shooting at the Buyafuthi Hostel in Katlehong on the East Rand on Saturday. His party has described the killing as an assassination. Provincial police spokesperson, Brenda Muridili, says a group of men were having a meeting at the hostel when three unknown men opened fire on the group, killing one person while two were wounded:

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has expressed eagerness to collaborate with the newly elected African Development Bank president, Sidi Ould Tah. The seasoned Mauritanian economist, secured 76-percent of the vote during the bank’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He will officially assume office on 1 September 2025, succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina. Godongwana emphasised the importance of Tah’s leadership in advancing Africa’s development agenda amid global financial challenges.

# Motorsport: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has extended his lead in the drivers’ championship over teammate Lando Norris to ten points, after winning a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix. Norris finished second with Charles Leclerc in third for Ferrari. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who was involved in a series of incidents, crossed the line fifth but dropped to tenth as a consequence of a ten-second penalty for causing a collision with Mercedes’ George Russell. Piastri says he is satisfied with his race:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-95-cents and the euro at 20-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-730-dollar-10-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-312-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Ster-Kinekor, South Africa’s biggest cinema chain, will shut its Cavendish Square cinema in Cape Town today, following a lease expiry. Its Gateway branch in Umhlanga closed earlier this month. Despite the closures, the company is shifting focus to e-gaming and educational programmes to stay relevant. CEO Mark Sardi says innovation is key. Rival Nu Metro will move into the vacated sites, ensuring moviegoers still have access to cinema experiences.

Stay tuned for more news………….