News 07:00

BULLETIN 4 May 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA is calling on minister Manamela to account for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme crisis
# Donald Trump says Iran has not yet paid a big enough price
# And rugby: The Junior Springboks clinch the U20 Rugby Championship title

# The DA is calling on minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, to urgently account to Parliament on the steps being taken to restore governance in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, stabilise the board, and protect students. This follows the recent NSFAS board resignations, including interim chairperson Mugwena Maluleke. The DA’s Delmaine Christians says internal conflicts within the NSFAS board are affecting decision-making, and governance procedures are under strain, potentially harming public confidence:

# The EFF has expressed outrage that government spends approximately 800-million-rand annually paying suspended public servants. According to a report by the Public Service Commission, 674 provincial and national officials are currently suspended, 516 of them for longer than the legally prescribed 90-day period. The EFF says this exposes the complete collapse of governance and consequence management within the state. The party demands the conclusion of disciplinary processes within 90 days, automatic dismissal of accounting officers who allow unlawful, prolonged suspensions, and criminal prosecution where suspensions involve corruption and financial misconduct.

# Gauteng Police Commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, has admitted that the scourge of kidnappings is a major challenge in the province. This follows the kidnapping of spaza shop owner Mazwi Kubheka while on his way to the bank a month ago. He was finally released on Saturday and made his way to the Vosloorus Police Station. No arrests have been made. Mthombeni says the anti-kidnapping unit is trying its level best to solve all kidnapping cases:

# A board of inquiry into suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner Daphney Manamela is underway this week, probing allegations of misconduct, including nepotism, abuse of power, and misuse of state resources. The inquiry follows her controversial media briefing, accusing senior police leadership, including suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and former Police minister Bheki Cele, of corruption. Manamela has called for the proceedings to be open to the public. Her current term is due to expire at the end of June.

# US president Donald Trump says Iran has not yet paid “a big enough price” for what it has done over the last 47 years. This comes as Tehran has presented a new 14-point proposal to the US via Pakistan, with a reported focus on lifting the blockades and establishing a new mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz. The deal reportedly also includes payment of compensation to Tehran for war damage. Trump says he will review the new proposal, but he can’t imagine that it would be acceptable.

# Rugby: The Junior Springboks thrashed Australia 56-17 to secure the Under-20 Rugby Championship title with a game to spare at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. South Africa ran in eight tries, including two penalty tries, to secure a bonus point win. Meanwhile, Argentina U20s stunned defending champions New Zealand 25-17, leaving them both on four points, which means the Junior Boks’ second bonus point win moved them onto ten points. South Africa will face the Junior All Blacks in their final match on Saturday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-59-cents and the euro at 19-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-470-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-603-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….