News 07:00

BULLETIN 22 May 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The process for the impeachment committee has been detailed
# Solidarity urges the government to accept a US olive branch
# And, Air France and Airbus are found guilty of corporate manslaughter

# Parliament’s Subcommittee on the Review of Assembly Rules legal team says there are a few processes that must happen before the 31-member impeachment committee can start its work. The Subcommittee will establish the operational road map for the impeachment committee. The Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament acted unconstitutionally when it voted against an impeachment inquiry and a panel report finding that Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution. The subcommittee’s legal advisor, Andrew Breitenbach, says there are a few topics that the impeachment committee must consider:

# Solidarity says that with the US extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade programme, South Africa should seize this proverbial olive branch from Washington. In a proclamation issued by US president Donald Trump, the duty-free treatment under AGOA for beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries would remain in effect until 31 December this year. Solidarity says government must ensure it does not weaken its relationship with one of its most important trading partners, through unnecessary policy decisions or diplomatic tensions. It adds that AGOA offers significant benefits to the South African economy.

# The DA calls for improved living conditions and better welfare support for South African National Defence Force members deployed at Fort Ikapa, a military base in Goodwood, Cape Town, under Operation Prosper. According to the party, soldiers were found housed in poor conditions, including a leaking hangar during severe weather, despite promises of proper care and facilities. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says soldiers deserve dignity and proper support while serving:

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse says claims of improved performance and healthcare usage in Johannesburg do not reflect the economic reality faced by residents. According to the organisation, mayor Dada Morero’s state of the city address recognised major challenges, including a significant infrastructure backlog, utility losses, and ongoing financial strain. OUTA’s Julius Kleynhans says residents are still experiencing water outages, refuse collection problems and poor basic services, which contradict official claims of progress:

# A Paris Appeals Court has found Air France and Airbus guilty of corporate manslaughter for the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which killed all 228 people on board. The passenger jet, flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, stalled during a storm and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing 216 passengers and 12 crew members. This ruling reverses the 2023 acquittal of both Air France and Airbus. The court has ordered the companies to pay the maximum fine for corporate manslaughter, which is over four-million-299-rand each.

# Tennis: Top seed Jannik Sinner will face French wild card Clement Tabur in the first round of the French Open. Potential opponents on the Italian’s path include American Ben Shelton and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. On the other side of the draw, three-time champion Serbia’s Novak Djokovic begins his latest bid for a 25th major against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Djokovic is in the same half as Norwegian Casper Ruud and Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Frenchman Gael Monfils, who is competing in his final season on Tour, will face compatriot Hugo Gaston.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-594-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-524-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….