News 06:00

BULLETIN 22 May 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Thabo Mbeki says African migrants should not be blamed for South Africa’s problems
# The evacuation of over 800 Ghanaians from South Africa is delayed
# And rugby: The Junior Boks thrash Chile in the U20 International Series opener

# Former president Thabo Mbeki has condemned rising anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa. This is amid widespread marches against undocumented migrants. South Africa is home to an estimated three-million migrants. Government is currently reviewing its immigration policies to better manage migration pressures and strengthen border controls. Speaking during a public discussion on migration and African integration yesterday, Mbeki warned against blaming African migrants for the country’s economic and social problems:

# The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has deferred its planned evacuation of Ghanaians who have indicated that they feel unsafe in South Africa. More than 800 Ghanaians have registered with their High Commission in Pretoria seeking to be evacuated due to the latest wave of xenophobic attacks. The ministry says, considering the numbers involved and the South African legal conditions that have to be met, including mandatory passenger screening, multi-institutional coordination, and flight permits, the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days.

# Statistics South Africa says retail trade sales increased by 2.6-percent year-on-year in March. Growth was mainly driven by general dealers and other retailers, while textiles, clothing and footwear also showed strong gains over the first quarter. However, retailers in specialised food, beverages and tobacco recorded a decline. Stats SA’s Raquel Floris says monthly sales were mostly flat, showing only slight growth compared to February after mixed performance earlier in the year:

# The Gauteng Health Department says most mental health non-governmental organisations in the province have been paid, with only a few experiencing delays due to administrative and compliance issues. According to the department, some organisations submitted incomplete or expired documents, including tax clearance issues, which are being corrected before payment can be finalised. The department’s Steve Mabona says the delays are not deliberate:

# Independent economist John Loos says while inflation is usually seen negatively, the higher inflation in the Western Cape may actually be a sign of stronger investment, job creation and income growth. The province had the highest inflation rate in April at 4.8-percent, driven largely by strong demand in housing, transport, and services. Loss added that rising rents and higher spending in areas like tourism and education suggest a more active economy compared to other provinces.

# Rugby: The Junior Springboks opened the Under-20 International Series with a commanding 97-0 victory over Chile at Rondebosch Boys’ High School in Cape Town. South Africa scored 15 tries, including hat-tricks from Lindsey Jansen and Risima Khosa, with Vusi Moyo kicking 22 points in a one-sided affair. Coach Kevin Foote says despite the lopsided score, the outing still offered valuable lessons. In their opening game, Georgia beat Fiji by 29-23. The Junior Boks will next face Fiji at Wynberg Boys’ High School on Tuesday, while Chile will take on Georgia.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-544-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-541-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….