News 14:00

BULLETIN 26 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa moves to set aside the Phala Phala panel’s findings
# Canal-Ploes cuts costs as DStv subscriber losses continue
# And soccer: Concern over Messi’s fitness shortly before the World Cup

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has filed an application in the Western Cape High Court to review and set aside the independent panel’s report on Phala Phala. He argues in court papers the panel misunderstood its mandate and relied on unproven claims when it found there was evidence he may have broken the Constitution and faced a conflict of interest. The court application comes after the Constitutional Court ruled that the National Assembly acted unlawfully when it rejected the panel’s report.

# Higher Education and Training minister Buti Manamela says government remains focused on growth, job creation and reducing poverty through education and skills development. Delivering his department’s budget vote in Parliament, Manamela outlined plans to overhaul the skills system through a dual training model linking classroom learning with workplace experience. He also emphasised strengthening TVET colleges as centres for occupational training:

# French media giant Canal-Ploes is aggressively cutting costs at MultiChoice as DStv continues losing subscribers across Africa. It confirmed it will list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange next month following its acquisition of MultiChoice. The company has already shut down Showmax and offered voluntary severance packages to staff. Analysts say Canal-Ploes is restructuring the business to stop financial losses and simplify offerings, while future plans could include integrating streaming platforms like Netflix into DStv subscriptions.

# Soccer: Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, faces an injury scare just weeks before the start of the country’s defense of its World Cup title. He left the field on Sunday playing for Inter Miami, and was later diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. The American club didn’t provide a clear timetable for the 38-year-old superstar’s return, just saying that would depend on his clinical and functional progress. Argentina’s first group match will be against Algeria in Kansas City in the US on the 16th of next month.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-115-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-533-dollars-96-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The agricultural organisation TLU SA says its young farmer of the year competition plays an important role in developing future agricultural leaders and strengthening the farming sector. The organisation encourages young farmers not to underestimate their potential and to take part in this year’s competition before entries close on 19 June. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says the competition continues to highlight young producers who can grow into leadership roles within agriculture:

Stay tuned for more news………….