News 06:00

BULLETIN 8 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says illegal migration poses a risk to South Africa
# Donald Trump says he will not unfreeze Iran’s assets until a peace agreement is reached
# And rugby: The Blitzboks star, Tristan Leyds, is crowned Sevens Player of the Year

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says illegal migration, if unchecked, poses a risk to South Africa’s security, stability, and economic progress. He addressed the nation on Sunday on the government’s approach to illegal migration and the recent surge in protests against foreign nationals. Ramaphosa stated that government acknowledges the challenges citizens face, including high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inadequate access to opportunities. He says that frustration can easily be directed at those perceived to be competitors for jobs and resources:

Ramaphosa also said there is no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia, or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa. He emphasised that unlawful actions, violence, intimidation, xenophobia, and the spread of misinformation have no place in the country. Ramaphosa expressed concern that anti-foreigner sentiment is at times accompanied by tribal and ethnic slurs, insults, or attacks aimed at other South Africans:

# Everest Wealth  Advisory Services CEO, Thys van Zyl, warns that poor infrastructure and logistical bottlenecks contribute directly to higher food prices in the country. He says the World Bank recently warned that South Africa has limited time to entrench its infrastructure reforms if the country hopes to accelerate economic growth and restore its competitiveness. Van Zyl says South Africa’s logistics costs as a percentage of gross domestic product are currently estimated at between 11- and 12-percent, significantly higher than in many comparable emerging markets.

# Gauteng police management has noted a video circulating on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, depicting a police official in full uniform returning money to a member of the public following an alleged bribery incident. Police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, says the police officer featured in the video has been identified, and immediate disciplinary processes have been instituted. She says a departmental investigation has also been launched to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident:

# US president Donald Trump says he will not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift any sanctions before a peace deal is reached. Yesterday marked 100 days since the US and Israel initiated a coordinated military campaign against Iran. In a wide-ranging interview on NBC, Trump said he is not planning to withdraw the roughly 50-thousand troops involved in the war until the conflict is over. He also stated that American forces will seize and destroy Iran’s highly enriched uranium, much of which is believed to be stored extremely deeply underground.

# Rugby: Blitzboks star, Tristan Leyds, capped off an impressive season by winning the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award. He scored 124 points, 16 tries, and 22 conversions in nine events this season, which was the second highest in the squad. Leyds is the fourth South African to win the prestigious award after Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok, and Seabelo Senatla. He and teammate Shilton van Wyk, who topped the points and try-scoring stakes with 160 points and 32 tries, were both named in the Dream Team of the Year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-56-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-87-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-323-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….