News 09:00

BULLETIN 9 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Forum for South Africa calls on Parliament to act without fear or political bias on the Phala Phala matter
# Ronald Lamola says Ghana’s decision to escalate xenophobic attacks to the African Union is regrettable
# And tennis: Zverev eases into the Italian Open third round while Djokovic slumps to an early elimination

# The Forum for South Africa is calling on Parliament to act without fear or political bias on president Cyril Ramahosa’s Phala-Phala matter in upholding constitutional processes. The Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament handling of the Phala Phala matter in 2022 was unconstitutional and invalid. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane says this judgment is yet another stark reminder that constitutional accountability in South Africa is not optional, it is mandatory:

# International Relations and Cooperation minister, Ronald Lamola says South Africa finds Ghana’s decision to escalate xenophobic attacks concerns about irregular migration to the African Union regrettable. Ghana has requested a debate on what it calls Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa against African Nationals at next month’s African Union  Mid-Year Coordination Summit in Cairo,  Egypt. However, the minister says should the AU deem it appropriate to place the on the Agenda, South Africa will also propose an agenda item on the push and pull factors of migration.

# Statistics South Africa reports electricity generation in March fell by 7.1-percent compared to the same period last year, while electricity consumption dropped by 3.5-percent year-on-year. However, monthly electricity distribution showed a slight increase in March after earlier small fluctuations. Stats SA’s Tsholofelo Ditinti says overall, data for the first quarter of 2026 shows a slight decline in electricity generation and a modest increase in consumption compared to the previous quarter:

# Health authorities across the globe are racing to trace dozens of people who disembarked from a cruise ship before an outbreak of hantavirus was detected, and anyone who has come into close contact with them since. Six cases have now been confirmed, including three deaths, following an outbreak on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius.  One-hundred- and-forty-seven passengers and crew from 28 countries are reported to have initially been aboard the vessel, but 34 got off on the island of St Helena.  The luxury cruise began in Argentina and is expected to arrive in Spain’s Canary Islands on 10 May.

# Tennis: Alexander Zverev eased into the third round of the Italian Open on Friday after comfortably dealing with fellow German Daniel Altmaier in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. Zverev is in good form having reached the final in Madrid last weekend and he is again on the other side of the draw to red-hot favourite Jannik Sinner. The 29-year-old has been beaten by Sinner in four Masters 1000 events this year and will have his work cut out if he is to add to his 2017 and 2024 titles in Rome.

Meanwhile Novak Djokovic slumped to an early elimination from the tournament, crumbling to a second-round defeat at the hands of qualifier Dino Prizmic. His performance now leaves question marks about his physical condition ahead of Roland Garros. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, was making his comeback from a shoulder injury in the last big tournament before the French Open, which starts later this month. In a post-match interview the Slovakian great said he can’t recall the last time in the last couple of years of preparation where he didn’t have any physical issues coming into a tournament.

Stay tuned for more news………….