News 18:00
BULLETIN 18 May 6 pm
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In this bulletin:
# Business Leadership South Africa says the logistics reforms are delivering results, but the momentum must accelerate
# The DA in the Western Cape welcomes the vaccination of 97-percent of children for measles
# And, Pakistan shares a revised Iranian proposal to end the war with America
# Business Leadership South Africa says reform of the logistics sector is critical to the country’s future economic success. According to the latest financial year data for 2025/2026, the country’s eight commercial ports welcomed eight-thousand-630 vessel arrivals. This represents a nine-percent increase in ship traffic compared to the previous financial year. BLSA CEO Busiswe Mavuso says momentum must accelerate, with the completion of the Network Statement, more port concessions finalised, and the need for transaction terms that genuinely enable private investment rather than protecting Transnet’s monopoly.
# The DA in the Western Cape says the provincial government is committed to protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases through strong immunisation programmes and targeted outreach campaigns. Nine-seven-percent of children under the age of one had been vaccinated against measles and rubella during the 2025/26 financial year. Spokesperson Memory Booysen says key challenges include vaccine misinformation, safety concerns in some communities, and access barriers in remote or high-crime areas:
# The Forum for South Africa has accused the City of Tshwane of misusing public funds. This as mayor Nasiphi Moya has revealed, the metro spends at least 30-million-rand per year on salaries of suspended officials. About 80-percent of the amount is tied to the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works tender scandal and other 2023 cases involving senior officials. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says this disgraceful expenditure represents a betrayal of public trust:
# Pakistan has shared a revised Iranian proposal with the US to end the Middle Eastern conflict as peace talks appeared to remain stalled. A Pakistani source told Reuters both countries keep changing their goalposts. Negotiations include Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its control of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has ruled out discussing its nuclear programme before the permanent end of hostilities. It also wants compensation for war damage, an end to the US naval blockade, a guarantee of no further attacks, and resumption of its oil sales.
# Rugby: Former Springbok scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl will join the Sharks next season. He was still playing for the Bulls when he represented South Africa in six Tests in 2018. He moved to Saracens in 2021 and had played 100 matches for the English side since and has also captained them several times. Thirty-year-old Van Zyl was lured to Durban following the departure of Bok Grant Williams to Japan. Saracens’ director of rugby, Mark McCall, says Van Zyl has led by example both on and off the field.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-59-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-833-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-565-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 105-dollars-48-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….