News 07:00

BULLETIN 21 May 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa wants to serve papers on two judges who co-authored the Phala Phala report
# Minister Godongwana says he is entitled to adjust the fuel levy
# And, the former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five others have been indicted by the US

# President Cyril Ramaphosa’s legal team has started the process of a review application against the Section 89 panel report, which found that he had a case to answer over the burglary at his Phala Phala farm. The legal team has requested permission from Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to serve papers on two former senior judges who co-authored the report, former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo and former High Court justice Thokozile Masipa. The Superior Courts Act requires litigants in civil proceedings to seek permission before instituting litigation against a judge.

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has argued that he is entitled to adjust the fuel levy as he sees fit and in the public interest, as stated in the Customs and Excise Act. The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment in the EFF’s application, challenging the Finance minister’s authority to determine and adjust the fuel levy. The EFF’s Nazier Paulsen says the fuel levy increase announced by Godongwana during his February budget was intended to compensate for the failed value-added tax increase last year:

# The Special Investigating Unit has welcomed a series of breakthroughs in the fight against the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme fraud. Arrests in Mpumalanga, a conviction in the Free State, and the preservation of assets obtained through the proceeds of crime represent over 27-million-rand in funds that were siphoned from the state. In Mpumalanga, three people were arrested for allegedly fabricating employees and submitting fraudulent claims to the UIF-TERS scheme. The SIU says it will continue to ensure accountability and restitution of stolen public funds.

# Western Cape premier Alan Winde says urgent national support is needed to speed up assistance to communities affected by severe weather in the province. This follows the classification of a provincial disaster after widespread damage. The premier’s spokesperson, Regan Thaw, says recovery efforts are underway, with electricity already restored to most impacted areas, while clean-up and repairs continue:

# The US government has indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro and five others. The criminal charges against the 94-year-old relate to his alleged role in ordering the 1996 shoot-down of two civilian aircraft belonging to the Cuban-American group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, who was Defence minister at the time, is alleged to have ordered the attack, which killed four men, including three American citizens. Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, says nations and their leaders cannot be allowed to target Americans and not face accountability:

# Rugby: Captain Ruhan Nel and winger Seabelo Senatla return from injury to strengthen the Stormers’ side for next weekend’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Cardiff in Cape Town. Nel recovered from a calf injury, while a leg injury kept Senatla out for most of the season. The hosts want revenge for last weekend’s group phase loss away to the Welsh side, which saw them end third on the log. Stormers director of rugby John Dobson says it’s huge to have two key players back for the important encounter.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 19-rand-17-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-832-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-557-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-94-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….