News 06:00
BULLETIN 27 May 6 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The ANC sets local government reform as top priority ahead of the November elections
# Bheki Cele and Sisisi Tolashe are referred to the ANC’s Disciplinary Committee
# And rugby: The Junior Boks record their second win in the U20 International Series
# The ANC says fixing local government will be its main focus ahead of the 4 November local government elections. The party’s national executive committee has identified eight underperforming municipalities for urgent turnaround plans, while also directing its deployees to prioritise the delivery of roads, water, and electricity. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told the media the elections will be a test of the party’s ability to improve service delivery and regain public trust:
# The ANC has referred five senior members to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, including former ministers Bheki Cele and Sisisi Tolashe, for allegedly bringing the organisation into disrepute. The others who were referred to the committee are City of Johannesburg mayoral committee member, Sithembiso Zungu, Matjhabeng Local Municipality mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha, and ANC Sedibeng regional secretary Jason Mkhwane. President Cyril Ramaphosa fired Tolashe as minister of Social Development earlier this month, after a series of allegations surfaced against her involving undeclared donations to the ANC Women’s League.
# Statistics South Africa’s latest general household survey shows steady improvements in access to basic services over the past two decades. Improved sanitation has risen from 62-percent in 2002 to 84-percent in 2025, while electricity access has increased to just over 90-percent. Internet access has expanded to about 85-percent of households, but postal services continue to decline. Stats SA’s Niel Roux says waste collection remains limited in many rural areas:
# The government has stepped in to prevent possible power cuts to Johannesburg after Eskom threatened to disconnect electricity over the city’s five-billion-rand debt. Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced a new intervention involving a ring-fenced payment system and a closer partnership between Eskom and City Power to manage revenue and ensure payments are made. Ramokgopa told the media the city is too important to fail given its role in the economy:
# North Korea fired several projectiles, including at least one short-range ballistic missile, toward waters off the country’s west coast on Tuesday. It is North Korea’s first known missile launch since April 19, when the country test-fired several short-range ballistic missiles. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry urged North Korea to respond to Seoul’s peace overtures and efforts to reduce tensions. A spokesperson for the ministry said Seoul would maintain its goal of the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, while trying to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in close coordination with the international community.
# Rugby: The Junior Springboks recorded their second comprehensive victory of the Under-20 International Series, beating Fiji 82-25 at Wynberg Boys’ High School in Cape Town yesterday. South Africa scored 12 tries, with Luan Giliomee marking his return to the team with a hat-trick. Last week, the Junior Boks thrashed Chile 97-0 in their opening match. In the other match, Georgia beat Chile 59-26. The final round of matches set to be played in Stellenbosch on Saturday will see South Africa take on Georgia, while Fiji will face Chile.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-695-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-500-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 96-dollars-22-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….