News 06:00

BULLETIN 3 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party is going to appeal the High Court ruling against John Hlophe
# Teen vaping is fuelling the nicotine addiction crisis
# And the German police start a new search for Madeleine McCann

# The MK Party says it will appeal the Western Cape High Court judgment against former judge John Hlophe, saying the ruling is a travesty of justice. The court ruled that it was unconstitutional and invalid for the National Assembly to designate Hlophe as a member of the Judicial Service Commission. The MK Party’s national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, says such judgments render the election process of public representatives a futile exercise if unelected judges can overturn the will of the people:

# Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition chairperson, Mzwandile Masina says Starlink is not the only option for expanding internet access in South Africa. Masina’s comments follow public debate around Starlink’s compliance with local ownership laws. Masina emphasised the need to explore a range of technologies to bridge the digital divide. He insists that transformation and inclusivity in the tech sector remain a national priority, even as demand for rural connectivity grows.

# Deputy Health minister Joe Phaahla says the glamorisation of vaping and flavoured tobacco is driving a dangerous rise in teen nicotine addiction. Speaking at a World No Tobacco Day event in Midrand, he revealed one in five high school learners are vaping. Phaahla emphasised that this trend threatens long-term health. He highlighted that the Tobacco Control Bill before Parliament aims to curb usage through tighter regulations:

# A 50-year-old Lesotho sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court for the premeditated murder and trafficking of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba. The child’s mother, Kuneuwe Shalaba, also faces a murder charge. NPA’s Lumka Mahanjana says the child was poisoned and buried in a shallow grave. She confirmed that bail is opposed for both accused and the case was postponed to Thursday:

# German police say they will undertake a new search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal starting today. She was three years old when she disappeared while on holiday with her family in the resort of Praia da Luz on May 3rd, 2007. The search will be the first to take place in two years. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who marked the 18th anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance last month, have vowed never to stop looking for her. This is one of the highest-profile unsolved missing person cases in the world.

# Motorsport: Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has admitted that frustration had led to him ramming Mercedes driver George Russell in the closing laps of an eventful Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen, who had initially blamed both Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Russell for causing the shunt, posted on social media that his action was inappropriate. The incident happened shortly after racing restarted with five laps left following a safety car. Verstappen immediately lost third to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and then went off the track as he tried to hold off Russell’s Mercedes.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-83-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-917-dollar-90-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-385-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-14-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….