News 18:00

BULLETIN 22 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Four provinces are recorded for the most murders
# Thoko Didiza says president Ramaphosa did not ask Parliament to stop the impeachment process
# And, Motorsport: Lewis Hamilton insists he is not retiring anytime soon

# Acting Police minister Firoz Cachalia says crime patterns across South Africa continue to show major regional differences, despite an overall decline in murders. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape still account for more than 80-percent of murders nationwide. The Eastern Cape has the highest murder rate at 14.3 murders per 100-thousand people, followed by the Western Cape. Cachalia says several police precincts remain persistent crime hotspots:

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza says president Cyril Ramaphosa has not asked Parliament to stop impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala matter. However, Ramaphosa informed Parliament that he intends to take the issue to court. According to Didiza, Parliament will wait for the president’s court papers, seek legal advice, and continue with steps to implement the Constitutional Court ruling on impeachment rules:

# The National Energy Regulator of South Africa, has launched two public consultation processes as South Africa moves toward a competitive electricity market. The regulator has released papers on wholesale electricity pricing and transitional generation pricing frameworks. Nersa says the proposals aim to support a fair, transparent and financially sustainable electricity market under the South African Wholesale Electricity Market model. Written submissions on the pricing methodology close on the 26th of June, while submissions on the generation pricing framework are due by the 6th of July.

# The Southern African Development Community Foreign ministers are meeting at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, in Mpumalanga, to discuss various issues including migration, global conflicts, trade uncertainty and shifting economic alliances. This follows a March resolution by the SADC Council of Ministers to assess global geopolitical developments and their impact on the region. Speaking to SABC, DIRCO spokesperson Crispin Phiri warned against breaking the law as immigration protests continue:

# Motorsport: Seven-time Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton, says he won’t retire anytime soon. The 41-year-old is contracted with Ferrari until at least the end of 2027. He has delivered some promising results under this season’s new regulations, securing his first podium with Ferrari in China, finishing third. Hamilton is currently fifth in the drivers’ standings after four races. He is looking forward to seeing what he can achieve with Ferrari:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-6-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-154-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-515-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….