News 09:00

BULLETIN 5 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme must be replaced with a decentralised model
# The Western Cape is on high alert following a weather warning
# And, the stars are shining at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala

# The DA believes that minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela’s decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration won’t be successful. The decision follows several NSFAS board resignations, instability and governance concerns. The scheme had been placed under administration twice before, in 2020 and 2024. The DA’s Delmaine Christians says it is now time to completely overhaul the payment distribution system to students and universities:

Meanwhile, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union has expressed shock at Manamela’s decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration. Nehawu’s spokesperson, Lwazi Nkolonzi, says they find it totally unacceptable that the minister did not consult with the union before making this major decision. He says the stabilisation of NSFAS requires urgent attention, especially against the background of the systemic and governance crisis that confronts the scheme:

# The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre has placed the province on high alert, following an Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall. An intense cut-off low-pressure system is expected to affect the province this afternoon. The centre’s Colin Deiner says the forecast predicts that the Garden Route District will bear the brunt of the impending storm, with expected rainfall ranging from 150 to 200 millimetres in certain areas:

# Soccer: The pendulum has swung Arsenal’s way in the race for the Premier League title after Manchester City played to a 3-3 draw against Everton yesterday evening. Pep Guardiola’s side led 1-0 at halftime through Jérémy Doku. In the second half, Everton fought back with substitute Thierno Barry scoring twice, either side of a Jake O’Brien header. Erling Haaland pulled one back, and Doku’s 97th-minute equaliser salvaged a point for City. Arsenal now know three wins from their final three matches will secure a first title in 22 years. 

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-80-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-72-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-936-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-533-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 111-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

# And finally, a parade of stars, including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Anna Wintour and Serena Williams, ascended the steps of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala. This year’s theme is “Fashion is Art,” tied to the exhibition titled “Costume Art” at the Met’s Costume Institute, for which the gala is a major source of income. Beyoncé, one of the co-chairs, returned to the event after a decade-long hiatus, wearing a gown by Olivier Rousteing. This year, the Met Gala raised a record of over 703-million-rand.

Stay tuned for more news………….