News 06:00

BULLETIN 28 May 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IEC is concerned over the “unwarranted attacks” on the integrity of electoral processes
# Paul Mashatile calls for intelligence-LED cooperation to fight gang crime
# And, the WHO chief warns that the ongoing conflict in the DRC is hampering the Ebola response

# The Electoral Commission says unfounded attacks on the integrity of electoral processes do not merely damage individual or institutional reputations; they inflict lasting injury on the country’s constitutional fabric. The total number of registered voters currently stands at 27.9 million South Africans, ahead of the November local government elections. IEC chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, says defending the integrity of an election requires political parties, their leaders, and candidates to adhere to ethical communication and not weaponise unsubstantiated claims:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the success of Operation Prosper depends on intelligence-led policing and stronger cooperation from communities to help identify gang crime perpetrators. He was speaking during a visit to gang-affected areas on the Cape Flats, including Mitchells Plain, Lentegeur and Gugulethu, where violent shootings continue despite a military deployment. Mashatile says the government wants to assess the situation on the ground and strengthen efforts to curb gang violence:

# Economist Dawie Roodt says South Africa risks driving people away from the rand if exchange controls on cryptocurrencies are tightened. Speaking to BizNews, Roodt criticised proposed Treasury regulations that could require crypto holders to declare assets and, in some cases, sell them to the state. He argued that blockchain technology makes traditional exchange controls difficult to enforce. Meanwhile, National Treasury says the draft regulations are aimed at preventing illicit financial flows and not at undermining private ownership of digital assets.

# City of Johannesburg deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for Finance, Loyiso Masuku, says while the metro’s finances are under immense strain, it has not collapsed. She tabled a 971-billion-rand budget for the 2026/2027 financial year. The budget includes steep tariff hikes with water prices rising by 12.5-percent, electricity by 8.63-percent and sanitation by 6.2-percent. Masuku says they must fund what is urgent, protect what is essential, leverage what is possible, and partner where resources fall short:

# The World Health Organisation warns that the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict, with the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response. There have been 223 suspected deaths in the DRC and Uganda. Ituri has been under military rule since 2021, while the outbreak has also spread to controlled Rwandan-backed M23 group areas in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says they cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling.

# Rugby: Blitzboks player Gino Cupido says they will start from scratch this weekend, despite their recent successes. South Africa clinched the international sevens series before winning in Hong Kong in the first of three world championship tournaments. The second takes place in Valladolid, Spain, this weekend, where the Blitzboks take on Great Britain, Kenya, and Australia in Pool A. The final tournament will be played in Bordeaux, France, early next month. Cupido says he once again wants to help the team push for glory.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-416-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-457-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….