News 17:00

BULLETIN 9 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Gayton McKenzie accelerates ancestral and exile repatriations
# A 74-year-old makes history with his 50th Comrades Marathon finish
# And a new book by retired judge Edwin Cameron calls for urgent prison reform

# Sport, Arts and Culture minister Gayton McKenzie says repatriating the remains of anti-apartheid heroes and indigenous Khoi and San ancestors is key to correcting historical injustices. McKenzie mentioned the reburial of the remains of 58 Khoi and San people, as talks continue with the University of Glasgow to return more Khoi and San remains from Scotland. He has called on the public to assist with information to identify those who died in exile:

# The minister of Higher Education and Training, Nobuhle Nkabane, has pledged to engage with the University of South Africa following reports of senior staff suspensions and ongoing concerns about governance and financial management. Ministry spokesperson Camagwini Mavovana says UNISA remains a vital part of the country’s higher education system and protecting its integrity is a priority:

# The DA says it has asked Social Development minister, Sisisi Tolashe, and South African Social Security Agency CEO, Themba Matlou, to ensure that beneficiaries going through the biometric verification process are not left without their grants. The party’s Bridget Masango says they have received complaints that beneficiaries are struggling to verify or update their details online. She says while they welcome SASSA’s efforts to enhance security, it cannot be at the expense of vulnerable beneficiaries.

# Roadrunning: Veteran runner Louis Massyn became the first person to complete the Comrades Marathon 50 times. The 74-year-old crossed the finish line just minutes before the 12-hour cut-off. Having first run in 1973, he only missed the race in 2020, ’21, and ’22. Massyn called it a tough but unforgettable day. He confirmed he plans two more races as the 100th Comrades Marathon takes place in 2027:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-73-cents and the euro at 20-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-603-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-315-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

# And finally: A new book called Behind Prison Walls has outlined practical steps to reform the strained prison system. It was written by retired Constitutional Court judge Edwin Cameron, research associate at the Centre for Law and Society, Rebecca Gore, and law clerk, Sohela Surajpal. Launched in Johannesburg, the book critiques harsh sentencing, overcrowding, and inequality in correctional justice. Cameron, who was appointed as Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services in 2020, calls for urgent bail reform, decriminalisation, and improved prison conditions.

Stay tuned for more news………….