News 17:00

BULLETIN 29 May 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party MP Vusi Shongwe is to testify at the Madlanga Commission
# A second Woolworths store is hit by an explosion
# And rugby: Marcell Coetzee returns to lead the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal

# MK Party Member of Parliament Vusi Shongwe has been invited to testify before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Shongwe told Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee that his testimony relates to a Durban meeting attended at the invitation of Crime Intelligence head Major-General Feroz Khan. Khan was recently arrested on charges linked to alleged violations of the Precious Metals Act:

# A second Woolworths store has been hit by an explosion – this time in Bloemfontein in the early hours of this morning, following a similar incident at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria earlier this week. Reports say an explosive device detonated inside the store, prompting emergency services and police to respond. No injuries have been reported. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blast and whether the incidents may be linked. Police have intensified security measures as investigations into the explosions continue.

# The Forum for South Africa says the decision by the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to increase the repo rate by 25 basis points is an economic punishment for the poor and working class. The repo rate is now at seven-percent, while the prime lending rate increases from 10.25-percent to 10.5-percent. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says they reject the notion that squeezing consumers is a solution, while the real drivers of economic collapse remain untouched:

# Eight students alleged to have been involved in a suspected arson attack at a Kenyan girls’ school that killed 16 pupils have been arrested. The fire tore through the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, about 120 kilometres north-west of capital city Nairobi. The National Police Service said after interviews with students and staff and a forensic review of CCTV footage, the eight pupils were identified as persons of interest. Kenya has had a long history of school fires. Many have been the result of arson while others were caused by accident.

# Rugby: The Bulls have made several changes to their squad for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Munster at Loftus Versfeld. Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the wing, while Stravino Jacobs is back in the starting fifteen. In the pack, captain Marcell Coetzee is back from illness and comes into the loose trio alongside Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw. In the second row Ruan Vermaak is elevated from the replacements bench to partner Ruan Nortje. The Bulls are chasing a fifth successive appearance in a URC semifinal and remain determined to finally be victorious.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 72-thousand-819-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-529-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 90-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….