News 12:00

BULLETIN 22 May 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin: 

# AfriForum is in possession of the docket related to Fikile Mbalula’s Dubai family holiday
# Cape Forum demands the new Parliament gets serious about referendum legislation
# And rugby: Springbok fullback Damian Willemse is ruled out for about four months

# AfriForum’s private prosecution unit has obtained the police docket related to ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula’s 2016 family holiday to Dubai. Former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found Mbalula violated the Constitution by asking a South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee supplier to help pay for the trip. This was when he was Sports minister. The National Prosecuting Authority declined to prosecute. The unit’s Barry Bateman says they are more convinced that Mbalula has a case to answer:

# Cape Forum demands that the new Parliament, which will be established after the national election, implement an earlier Constitutional Court decision on the introduction of legislation that will enable provincial referendums. Executive chairperson, Heindrich Wyngaard, says they will not rest until the legislation is adapted to give effect to the constitutional directive in Section 127. He says they have sent a request to Parliament:

# The Health Justice Institute says it is evident that big pharmaceutical companies will exploit health emergencies to coerce governments into accepting unreasonable agreements on the supply of life-saving medicines. The institute released its second report on previously secret Covid-19 vaccine deals by the Health Department. The advocacy group says documents show that the government unsuccessfully pushed back against many of the terms demanded by Pfizer. The institute says South Africa was ultimately forced to pay a premium and bear the risk of any delays or harm.

# Rugby: The Stormers and Springboks will be without the services of utility back Damian Willemse for about four months. He injured his finger ligaments during the victory over Connacht, which secured the Stormers’ place in the United Rugby Championship playoffs. He is expected to undergo surgery tomorrow. Willemse will miss the rest of the URC season as well as the Springboks’ June and July Tests and the Rugby Championship.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-18-cents and the euro at 19-rand-74-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-902-dollars-3-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-412-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Elvis Presley’s granddaughter is embroiled in a legal battle to prevent his famous mansion from being sold. Riley Keough argues her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley’s signature was forged on a document from a loan company who says she used Graceland as collateral for a 68-million-rand loan which she never repaid. Keough filed a legal action to stop tomorrow’s auction. The mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis is buried, was declared a national historic landmark in 2006. Keogh is currently the sole owner and trustee.

Stay tuned for more news………….