News 08:00

BULLETIN 5 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Fikile Mbalula says the deadline for SACP members still stands
# AfriForum is concerned about the security of military infrastructure
# And, president Donald Trump threatens to blow Iranian forces ‘off the face of the earth’

# ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, says the South African Communist Party’s decision to contest the local government elections independently is a squandered opportunity at a time when they need to consolidate the alliance. The ANC has given members who have dual membership until next Monday to submit a written declaration deciding which party they will campaign for in the elections. Mbalula says the deadline still stands:

# The EFF says it rejects the decision by minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration. The decision comes after a series of resignations, including those of former chairperson, doctor Karen Stander, and interim chairperson, doctor Mugwena Maluleke. The EFF says this latest development is a continuation of the chronic dysfunction that has characterised the scheme for years under ANC governance. It adds that the scheme has previously been placed under administration, yet the conditions facing students have not improved.

# AfriForum says the recent theft of military weapons at the Lyttelton Military Base in Pretoria has once again highlighted the failure of state institutions to secure weapons. At least three R4 rifles and a grenade launcher were stolen when criminals gained entrance to the premises by cutting a hole in the perimeter fence. AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk says it is clear that the greatest risk lies not with law-abiding firearm owners, but with the state’s inability to secure its own arsenal:

# US president Donald Trump has warned that Iranian forces would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if they target American ships. This comes as the US has struck seven Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz, as the military guides stranded ships out of the Gulf. Iran’s military had warned that it would strike any US naval vessel approaching the Strait, and claimed to have struck an American warship. Trump has described the war on Iran as a little detour:

# Cricket: The Mumbai Indians have kept their Indian Premier League slim play-off hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants. Nicholas Pooran scored 63 runs off just 21 balls as the Super Giants posted 228 for five. In reply, Rohit Sharma top-scored with 84 off 44 balls, and Ryan Rickelton scored 83, to lead the Mumbai Indians to their highest successful run chase in IPL history with eight balls to spare. Mumbai are now six points off the top four with four matches to play.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-79-cents and the euro at 19-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-71-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-657-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-542-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….