News 06:00

BULLETIN 3 June 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa warns against global shocks slowing South Africa’s recovery
# Schools in the Eden and Central Karoo districts are closed due to a heavy rainfall warning
# And, Ukraine’s Foreign minister says Putin is running out of options

President Cyril Ramaphosa says global conflicts and rising oil prices could slow South Africa’s economic recovery. In his Presidency budget vote speech in Parliament, Ramaphosa said tensions in regions such as the Middle East have driven up energy and fertiliser costs, which may affect inflation and the cost of living. He cautioned that these external pressures could also weigh on economic growth and job creation in the short term:

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa also says the 2026/2027 Presidency budget will prioritise tackling crime, corruption, and inequality. Ramaphosa said in Parliament government is strengthening law enforcement, the National Prosecuting Authority, and other institutions to improve safety and accountability, while noting that the Madlanga commission is already having an impact. He added that corruption will not be tolerated, no matter a person’s position, status, or political affiliation:

# Employment and Labour minister, Nomakhosazana Meth says despite signs of economic stabilisation and improving investor confidence, South Africa continues to face a massive job crisis. The country’s official unemployment rate rose to 32.7-percent in the first quarter of this year. Meth says her department is intensifying efforts to tackle unemployment through a combination of employment programmes, skills development initiatives, and labour market reforms. She says one of these initiatives is the revamped Labour Activation Programme, which aims to create 200-thousand opportunities during the current financial year.

# Schools in the Eden and Central Karoo districts of the Western Cape will be closed today and tomorrow. This is due to the South African Weather Service issuing a Level 8 Orange warning for heavy rainfall and potential widespread flooding for parts of the Western and Eastern Cape. Western Cape Education MEC, David Maynier, says all other schools in the province will be open unless approval has been granted for closure, which will be done on a case-by-case basis:

# Ukraine’s Foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, says the latest strikes by Russia show president Vladimir Putin is running out of options. Moscow launched massive missile and drone attacks in Kyiv and the central city of Dnipro yesterday morning, killing at least 22 people, including two children. Russia says the systematic strikes were retaliation for last month’s deadly attack on a student dormitory in an occupied part of eastern Ukraine. Kyiv has denied being behind the attack. Sybiha says Putin is a war criminal who has no cards except terror.

# Rugby: Former Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber says he is uncertain over his future at Leinster in Ireland, despite having a year left on his contract. His team plays the Stormers in the semifinal of the United Rugby Championship this weekend after losing to Bordeaux in the Champions Cup title decider. This was their second time in the final, while they also won the URC last season. But Nienaber says CEO’s and boards are influenced by public and media criticism rather than by teams’ performances.   

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-804-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-489-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….