News 08:00

BULLETIN 7 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Tau says black economic empowerment will not be abandoned
# The Joburg mayor meets minister Godongwana over the dire state of the metro’s finances
# And, Israel strikes Beirut for the first time since the ceasefire

# Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, says broad-based black economic empowerment will continue to be the lever government uses to free South Africans. This as Business Leadership South Africa has warned that the department’s proposed amendments to the B-BBEE regulations risk undermining years of industrial development. Tau says B-BBEE must be strengthened and revised, but ultimately, it will not be abandoned. He adds that economic emancipation is the measure of the country’s freedom:

# Police have confirmed that National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams arrived in Durban late yesterday evening; however, he was not processed and was detained at the Westville Police Station due to security concerns. He was apprehended in Cape Town on Tuesday for alleged interference in the investigation into the 2017 assassination of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa. National Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says Adams is scheduled to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court today:

# Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero says he will soon meet with Finance minister Enoch Godongwana to discuss concerns over alleged budget regulation transgressions. The minister has warned that Treasury would withhold funding to the metro if its finances are not sorted out. In a letter to the metro, Godongwana revealed that Johannesburg owes creditors 25.2-billion-rand while holding only four-billion-rand in cash, leaving a shortfall of more than 21-billion-rand. Morero says there is no need for concern:

# Israeli forces bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, marking the first strike in the Lebanese capital since the beginning of the US-brokered ceasefire with armed group Hezbollah last month. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he had personally approved the strike, which targeted a commander of the group’s elite Radwan Force. He says the Radwan terrorists are responsible for firing at Israeli settlements and harming soldiers. Netanyahu adds that Israel’s long arm will reach every enemy and murderer. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than two-thousand-700 people since March 2nd.

# Cricket: The Sunrisers Hyderabad have moved to the top of the Indian Premier League standings after beating the Punjab Kings by 33 runs. Heinrich Klaasen top-scored with 69 off 43 balls as the Sunrisers posted 235 for four in their 20 overs. In reply, despite Cooper Connolly’s unbeaten 107 from 59 balls, his maiden IPL century, Punjab were restricted to 202 for seven and suffered their third consecutive defeat. Two points separate the top five teams in the standings, with Chennai Super Kings two points further back in sixth.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-26-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-944-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-704-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-33-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….