News 09:00

BULLETIN 13 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party wants the Public Protector impeached over her handling of the Phala Phala matter
# The ConCourt rejects claims that the Refugees Act completely bars later asylum applications
# And, minority governing parties in Joburg say the metro stands dangerously close to institutional collapse

# The MK Party has written to National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza requesting that she initiate a motion of impeachment against Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka. The party accuses the Public Protector of failing to act on evidence related to the Phala Phala matter. It alleges that Gcaleka failed to identify or refer possible criminal conduct, abuse of state resources, or irregular actions involving senior police officials. The MK Party adds that the Public Protector’s role is to protect the public, and not the politics of a sitting president or politicians.

# The Constitutional Court has rejected claims that the Refugees Act completely bars later asylum applications. Justice Owen Rogers found the law allows fresh applications where there has been a significant change in circumstances. Rogers said the Act’s protections against returning people to danger must remain central in interpreting asylum laws. He noted that repeat applications without new evidence may still be treated as abusive and refused by authorities:

# Minority governing parties in the City of Johannesburg warn that the metro stands dangerously close to institutional collapse, consumed by political interference, executive dysfunction, administrative instability and weakening financial governance. The minority governing parties are a grouping of ten small parties that form part of the ANC-led coalition government in the metro. MPG’s Yongama Zigebe says the decline of Johannesburg, which was preventable, was accelerated through reckless political conduct:

# The Pentagon says the US war against Iran has cost 479-billion-rand so far, an estimate that’s higher than the 413-billion rand figure provided to Congress last month. Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst told the House Armed Services Committee that the increase included updated repair and replacement of equipment and operational costs. He added that the figure does not include the costs of damages to US bases in the Middle East. Meanwhile, war budgeting experts estimate that the conflict will ultimately cost US taxpayers at least 16.5 trillion-rand.

# Soccer: Orlando Pirates can all but seal the Premiership title with a win at home to Durban City on Saturday. This is after eight-time reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy at the Mamelodi Stadium yesterday evening. Masandawana finish the season with 68 points from 30 matches, while Pirates have 65 with two matches to play. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says their intense fixture schedule has taken a toll on his players:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 19-rand-35-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-32-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-227-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-698-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….