News 06:00

BULLETIN 27 May 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the elections will be free and fair
# The Election Commission dismisses vote rigging allegations at its storage sites in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga
# And 12 injured aboard a Qatar Airways flight during severe turbulence

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the upcoming general elections must strengthen the country’s democracy, regardless of the outcome. He addressed the nation yesterday evening, ahead of the special vote today and tomorrow and the elections on Wednesday. Ramaphosa says since 1994 South Africans expect this election to be held in conditions of peace and stability, to be free, and to be fair:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa says this election ends the sixth administration, which took over after ten years of corruption and state capture. Ramaphosa says over five years, members of Parliament from all parties have worked diligently to implement a clear electoral mandate to transform the country:

# The Electoral Commission has dismissed allegations of vote rigging against its KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga offices. This follows videos circulated by MK party members of alleged vote-rigging at the storage sites of the IEC in Chesterville, KZN, and Hammarsdale in Mpumalanga. The IEC says the videos depict its planned logistical arrangements and storage of election materials as they prepare for the first day of special voting today. It adds that these storage sites are guarded on a 24-hour basis.

# The Freedom Front Plus in Johannesburg says it did not support the metro’s budget of 83.7-billion-rand for the 2024/2025 financial year, as it fails to address the city’s many challenges. The FF Plus’ Cor Boer says the budget fails to address the water crisis brought on by outdated infrastructure and leakages. Boer adds although the party appreciates the fact that property rates were increased by only 3.8-percent, it rejects the increase of 7.7-percent for sanitation and 5.9-percent for refuse removal services.

# Qatar Airways has launched an internal investigation after 12 people were injured due to turbulence on a flight from Doha to Dublin yesterday afternoon. Six passengers and six crew members reported injuries, of these eight were hospitalised. This comes after a British man died of a suspected heart attack and 104 people were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London hit severe turbulence last week. Qatar Airways says the safety and security of its passengers and crew remain a top priority.

# Motorsport: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won his home race the Monaco Grand Prix. He held off an early challenge from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to take his first win since July 2022, as his teammate Carlos Sainz took third. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished fourth and Mercedes’ George Russell in fifth. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull had to settle for sixth, and sees his championship lead over Leclerc reduced to 31 points. Leclerc says winning at home is extra special:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-688-dollars-13-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-334-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….