News 06:00

BULLETIN 6 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ANC members will today protest against a potential DA coalition
# The government is considering a state of disaster in the Eastern Cape
# And rugby: Nizaam Carr stays at Loftus until 2027

# Concerned ANC members will today protest against a potential coalition with the DA. They will gather outside the National Executive Committee meeting venue in Parktown, Johannesburg, urging the committee to reject the coalition. Protesters argue that 80-percent of voters rejected the DA in the elections due to its regressive policies. Their demonstration advocates for justice and transformation. The ruling party, having lost the majority of votes, securing 40.2-percent, is under pressure to form a coalition government with opposition parties.

Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party says it rejects the idea of an ANC-DA coalition. The SACP opposes coalition agreements with anti-worker, neo-liberal, and corrupt state-captured networks. At a media briefing, SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila expressed concerns over state capture and factional conduct, advocating for coalition arrangements excluding the DA. Mapaila criticised the MK party for negatively impacting the ANC-led government and electoral performance:

# Government is mulling over whether to declare a state of disaster in the Eastern Cape following deadly floods. At least ten people died as a result of the rain-induced floods, while over 500 have been displaced. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, and minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, visited affected areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality yesterday. Nkadimeng says teams are currently assessing the extent of the damage:

# The Freedom Front Plus has welcomed the City of Tshwane budget for 2024/2025, saying it provided much input. The operational budget is 48.3-billion-rand. The FF Plus’ Awie Erasmus says they are particularly pleased with several allocations in the budget including 177-million-rand for maintenance of the electricity grid, and credit control amounting to 91.9-million-rand. He adds that the budget focuses on ensuring the metro’s financial stability and the provision of essential services to residents:

# The Israel-Hamas war, raging in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group’s 7 October attack, has revived a global push for Palestinians to be given a state of their own. Slovenia on Tuesday became the latest country to recognise Palestine, breaking with the long-held view of Western powers that Palestinians can only gain statehood as part of a negotiated peace with Israel. This follows the same move made last week by Spain, Ireland and Norway. This means that 146 out of the 193 UN member states now recognise a Palestinian state.

# Rugby: Nizaam Carr has extended his contract with the Bulls to 2027. The former Springbok loose forward played 54 matches for the union during two stints since 2020. The 33-year-old says the Bulls have become his family. Cape Town-born Carr says one of the highlights of his time at Loftus was beating the Stormers in front of a capacity crowd in a United Rugby Championship match recently. He hopes to help bring home silverware over the next three years.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-92-cents and the euro at 20-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-975-dollars-18-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-357-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-64-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….