News 11:00

BULLETIN 6 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Mashatile says there is no xenophobia in South Africa
# The US Secretary of State says “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran has concluded
# And rugby: The Bok centre Jan Serfontein calls time on his stellar career

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has reaffirmed there is no xenophobia in South Africa, emphasising the country is not anti-foreigners. Anti-immigration groups are calling for the strict enforcement of immigration laws and mass deportations. Over the past two financial years, deportations have surged by a cumulative 46-percent, totalling over 109-thousand by 31 March. Mashatile says hatred towards fellow Africans cannot be tolerated:

# The EFF says it has been the lone and consistent voice demanding accountability for the criminality, secrecy, and abuse of power surrounding the Phala Phala scandal. The Constitutional Court is set to rule on Friday on whether Parliament acted lawfully when it rejected a Section 89 panel report, recommending an impeachment inquiry against president Cyril Ramaphosa. The EFF’s Thembi Msane says they await the judgment with expectation:

# The ANC in Johannesburg has expressed concern about the confirmed presence of a Hantavirus case in the metro. A British national is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Sandton for the rare but deadly disease. He is one of five suspected cases linked to an outbreak on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship that has left three people dead. The ANC says South Africa has limited historical exposure to Hantavirus, and therefore the presence of a confirmed case necessitates the highest levels of precaution and institutional alignment.

Moving abroad:

# US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, says the initial US-Israeli offensive in Iran, “Operation Epic Fury”, is over after achieving its objectives. The operation began on 28 February when the US and Israel launched a wave of air strikes on Iran. Tehran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20-percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes. Rubio says the attacks have caused generational destruction to Iran’s economy and defence capabilities:

# Rugby: Springbok and Bulls centre, Jan Serfontein, has decided to retire after a celebrated first-class career spanning 15 years. The 33-year-old played 35 tests for South Africa, along with participating in the 2015 World Cup in England. He spent five seasons with the Bulls before moving to French club Montpellier in 2017, where he made over 140 appearances across eight seasons and won the Top 14 title in 2022. Serfontein’s return to the Bulls last year was cut short by a significant knee injury.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-38-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-486-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-665-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-65-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….