News 14:00

BULLETIN 13 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Humanitarian efforts in the Winelands are hindered by limited access
# NERSA seeks a High Court extension to finalise the municipal tariff applications
# And rugby: Georgia’s former captain is banned for 11 years for his role in a doping scandal

# The Cape Winelands District Municipality has appealed for humanitarian aid following the devastating floods in the Western Cape. Spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto says thousands of people had to flee their homes and are being housed in community and church halls, and need help. The Department of Social Development, Gift of the Givers, and the Salvation Army have been supplying supplies where possible. Otto says local soup kitchens and benevolent organisations are assisting, but the need is significant and supplies are constrained due to limited access.

# The GOOD Party says the increasing number of active South Africans jobseekers to more than 8.1 million adults, together with sustained slow economic growth, is a national crisis. Figures for the first quarter of the year released by Statistics SA shows the expanded unemployment rate rose 1.6-percent to 43.7-percent. GOOD’s secretary general, Brett Herron, says this national crisis is being hopelessly inadequately addressed by the 370-rand Social Relief of Distress Grant:

# The National Energy Regulator of South Africa will approach the High Court to seek an extension to finalise the consideration and approval of 14 outstanding municipal and private distributors’ tariff applications for the 2026/27 financial year. Of the 176 tariff applications received on 31 March, 162 were approved within the prescribed timeframe on 11 May. Nersa’s spokesperson, Charles Hlebela, says the court application is necessary to avoid disruption ahead of the July first tariff implementation:

# The National Consumer Commission says Lexus South Africa is recalling certain Lexus RC-F high performance sports cars due to a fuel pump-related defect. The recall affects 22 vehicles that were distributed in the South African market. The affected models are the Lexus RZ-F 60C, Lexus RZ-F Track Edition 60L and Lexus RZ-F 60M, made available between 6 November 2014 and 29 December 2021 and sold nationally. Owners are advised to take their vehicles to any approved Lexus dealership for a replacement of the fuel pump at no cost.

# Rugby: The game was plunged in controversy in Georgia when former captain Merab Sharikadze was banned for 11 years for helping teammates cheat in anti-doping tests. World Rugby also banned another five players and team doctor Nutsa Shamatava for up to nine years. A parallel investigation was launched alongside the World Anti-doping Agency after irregularities were found in urine samples. It was found Sharikadze provided clean urine samples to three teammates for a period before the 2023 World Cup. Shamatava informed players of upcoming doping tests in advance.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-946-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-698-dollars-14-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars-63-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….