News 11:00

BULLETIN 2 June 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa will present the Presidency’s budget this afternoon
# Steenhuisen says government is ensuring foot-and-mouth-disease control measures don’t unnecessarily disrupt trade
# And rugby: The injury-hit Stormers are boosted by the return of two key players for the United Rugby Championship semifinal

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will table the Presidency’s 2026/27 budget vote before the National Assembly this afternoon, which will be followed by a debate. This takes place amid heightened political tension regarding his pending Section 89 impeachment inquiry. The Presidency says centred in this year’s budget are priorities such as an intelligence-led approach to dismantle criminal networks, coordinating government communication for an informed, empowered citizenry, as well as modernising national statistics. Ramaphosa will reply to the debate on the budget tomorrow.

# Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen says South Africa is successfully maintaining key livestock export markets despite the ongoing foot and mouth disease. Since February, the country has procured 13.5 million doses of vaccine and vaccinated nearly 4.4 million animals. Steenhuisen says government has shouldered the financial burden of the vaccination campaign to reduce the impact on producers. He says trade talks are ongoing to ensure markets for South African products and to maintain confidence in the animal health systems:

# RISE Mzansi says it is offering Johannesburg residents a legitimate and sound alternative to the various established political parties, which have had an opportunity to misgovern the country’s economic and financial hub since 2016. The party’s mayoral candidate for the metro is Lukhona Mnguni. Spokesperson Mabine Seabe says the repeated narrative aimed at de-campaigning so-called smaller parties and a call not to vote for them is anti-democratic and undermines the will of voters:

Moving abroad:

# Iranian-backed Hezbollah has agreed to a US proposal for a ceasefire, which will halt attacks on Israel and for Israel not to attack the Lebanese capital of Beirut. This comes after Iran pulled out of peace talks with the US in protest at the Israeli offensive in Lebanon. The current conflict began in March after Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned strikes on Beirut would go ahead if Hezbollah does not stop attacking his country.

# Rugby: The Stormers have received a major boost ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship semifinal against Leinster in Dublin. Lock Ruben van Heerden, who had a concussion, and centre Dan du Plessis, who has recovered from a knee injury, are back in the squad. The Stormers lost Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Seabelo Senatla during their quarterfinal victory over Cardiff. Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani is expecting a tough challenge against Leinster:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-21-cents and the euro at 18-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-748-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-536-dollars-43-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….