News 15:00

BULLETIN 8 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ATM calls for Ramaphosa to step down after the Constitutional Court’s ruling
# BOSA says the Phala Phala ruling has restored public accountability
# And tennis: Sinner says players don’t feel respected by the four Grand Slam events

# African Transformation Movement says South Africa is led by a tainted president following the Constitutional Court ruling that Parliament’s 2022 vote on the Phala Phala farm theft of ten-million-rand was unconstitutional and invalid. ATM’s parliamentary leader, Vuyo Zungula, told SABC News urgent impeachment proceedings were imperative. He emphasises this matter will show whether government of national unity parties will side with the ANC or stand on principles:

Build One South Africa has welcomed the ruling. The court also found the National Assembly acted irrationally when it rejected the independent panel’s report into allegations linked to the burglary at president Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in 2020. BOSA’s Roger Solomons says the judgment is a victory for accountability and the rule of law, adding no-one is above the law, including Ramaphosa.

# The Madlanga commission has ruled testimony from a key crime intelligence officer, Witness H, will be heard entirely in camera. The public and media are banned from accessing the audio or video of the testimony. The evidence relates to the 2021 theft of 541 bricks of cocaine from Hawks offices in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal. The commission says the closed proceedings are necessary to protect the witness, confidential informants, and ongoing investigations linked to alleged criminal syndicates and corruption within the criminal justice system.

# Agricultural organisation, TLU SA, says it has informed Ramaphosa and minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen of its concern about the country’s current policy direction, the pressure on food production, and the urgent need for practical, economically responsible solutions for growth. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the country cannot afford to continue with policies that undermine investor confidence, sideline merit, and hinder economic growth:

# Tennis: World number one Jannik Sinner says players are not getting the respect they deserve from the organisers of the four Grand Slam events. The women’s world number one, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, recently stated players will at some point boycott one of the majors if they aren’t given a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the slams. The Italian says players give much more than what they get back:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-29-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-31-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-245-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-722-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 98-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….