News 16:00

BULLETIN 29 May 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Three foreign nationals appeared in a Musina court over the one-billion-rand Beitbridge drug seizure
# The African Development Bank Group and the World Economic Forum launch an investment roadmap for fragile economies
# And rugby: Ruhan Nel returns to lead the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal

# Three foreign nationals have been remanded in custody until 5 June after appearing in the Musina Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo in connection with a nearly one-billion-rand drug bust at the Beitbridge border. The suspects, a Malawian man and woman and a Zambian man, were arrested after Border Management Authority officials intercepted a Malawi-registered truck carrying 28 bags of a substance used in the production of Mandrax. The state is seeking a Chewa language interpreter while also verifying the accused’s profiles.

# National Council of Provinces chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane says Budget Vote 2 is regarded as the people’s budget because it funds Parliament’s core constitutional responsibilities. Addressing Parliament, Mtshweni-Tsipane said the allocation supports law-making, executive oversight, public participation, intergovernmental relations and international cooperation. She added that the budget also strengthens administrative systems enabling Members of Parliament and political parties to carry out their duties effectively:

# The African Development Bank Group and the World Economic Forum have launched the Humanitarian and Resilience Investing Roadmap for Africa to attract private investment into some of the continent’s most fragile economies. The initiative aims to address Africa’s estimated annual development financing gap of 6.4-trillion-rand. The roadmap seeks to unlock sustainable funding for infrastructure, economic recovery and resilience-building projects. Organisers say the partnership will help mobilise investors, reduce risks and strengthen long-term growth opportunities in vulnerable African states.

# The City of Tshwane Council has approved a public participation process on a proposal to rename Wonderboom Airport in honor of the original Ndebele landowners of the area. The proposal first submitted in 2018 was reconsidered under the city’s Geographical Names Policy adopted in 2023. Mayoral committee member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Sarah Mabotsa says residents and stakeholders will be invited to comment before any decision is taken:

# Rugby: Ruhan Nel will make his return from injury and captain the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Cardiff at the Cape Town Stadium tomorrow afternoon. He is joined by experienced backs Seabelo Senatla and Dan du Plessis as the only changes to the starting line-up for the big knock-out clash. Nel and Du Plessis will make their 30th start together as the centre pairing to draw level with De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert as the Stormers’ most-capped midfield combination.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-21-cents and the euro at 18-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-78-cents and Bitcoin trades at 73-thousand-134-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-525-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….