News 09:00

BULLETIN 18 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Simelane says South Africa has made progress in sustainable urbanisation
# The EFF condemns the Helen Suzman Foundation’s court bid against Malema
# And, Donald Trump threatens Iran again

# Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, says South Africa has made substantial progress in advancing sustainable urbanisation, anchored in the principal provisions of the Constitution and the National Development Plan. The minister addressed the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. Simelane says that, notwithstanding the opportunities it has presented, urbanisation has also contributed to persistent spatial inequality, challenges in basic services delivery, infrastructure backlogs, and overburdened municipal governance systems:

# The EFF says the court action by the Helen Suzman Foundation, seeking to remove Julius Malema from participation in the Judicial Service Commission, is politically motivated. In the court application, the foundation argues that Parliament must assess whether Malema remains fit to serve on the JSC, given his recent conviction and repeated public attacks on the judiciary. The EFF says the timing of this litigation confirms that it forms part of a broader political campaign to deflect public attention away from the failures and scandals of president Cyril Ramaphosa.

# Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya has expressed concern at the metro’s annual expenditure of 30-million-rand on salaries for suspended officials, most of whom are senior managers. She told eNCA that the money goes to senior officials who were suspended due to the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works tender scandal and other 2023 cases. Moya says while suspended officials are entitled to due process, the metro must find ways to conclude disciplinary matters more efficiently:

# US president Donald Trump has issued another warning to Iran, saying the country “better get moving, fast, or there won’t be anything left of them”. This comes as reports suggest the US and Israel are undergoing the most intense preparations for renewed attacks against Tehran, amid stalled peace talks. Meanwhile, the Iranian government says that the US has offered no tangible concessions in its latest proposals, which include an immediate end to the war on all fronts and a halt to the American naval blockade of Iranian ports.

# Soccer: Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Morocco’s AS FAR 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld. Aubrey Modiba’s free kick was enough to give The Brazilians a narrow lead heading into the second leg in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday. Sundowns last won the CAF Champions League in 2016 by beating Egyptian side Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate, to claim their first-ever continental title. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso admitted that they could have scored more goals:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-74-cents and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-28-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-763-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-530-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….