News 07:00

BULLETIN 28 May 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Macpherson highlights the importance of the Adopt-A-Municipality initiative
# Eskom is working to reduce its reliance on government support
# And cricket: Wolvaardt signs with the Adelaide Strikers for another two years

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister, Dean Macpherson, says the Adopt-A-Municipality initiative is an opportunity to improve the coalface of service delivery in South Africa. The initiative is in its pilot phase at three municipalities. It paves the way for Infrastructure South Africa to work with municipalities to introduce rapid infrastructure interventions and assist with the delivery of infrastructure projects. Macpherson says a plan is in place to help municipalities deliver about 3.5-billion-rand worth of infrastructure:

# Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says their aim remains to ultimately reduce the power utility’s reliance on government support by driving the company toward financial sustainability. The state-owned entity is in the last year of a three-year debt relief programme, in which the government has assisted it with a 254-billion-rand debt relief package. Marokane says they are determined to continue efforts to turn around Eskom’s financial and operational performance.

# Scientists from the African Union Development Agency say agricultural innovation is key to tackling malnutrition. Speaking at the G20 meeting of chief agricultural scientists in Polokwane, Limpopo, researcher Ildephonse Musafiri stressed the need to transform food systems across Africa. Discussions focused on boosting productivity, financing agriculture, and involving youth and women. Musafiri highlighted that scientific research and evidence-based strategies are essential for sustainable farming and lasting change in food and nutrition security.

# Police say the 53-year-old man arrested after driving into a crowd in Liverpool, England, on Monday was apprehended on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences, and driving while unfit through drugs. Thousands of people had been on the city’s streets for Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade when the man drove through the crowd. Over 50 people were injured, including children, with eleven still in hospital. Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims reiterated that this incident is not being treated as terrorism:

# Cricket: Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt will be available for Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League for another two years. She extended her contract after five seasons during which she scored one-thousand-726 runs. Twenty-six-year-old Wolvaardt says the team had become a second home to her, and she’s excited and determined to help them achieve more success. The team has won the title in 2022 and ’23, but ended seventh last year. This year’s competition starts in November.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-93-cents and the euro at 20-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-952-dollars-20-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-304-dollars-59-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

# And finally, president Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category One for the late ANC stalwart and struggle veteran, Gertrude Shope. She passed away at the age of 99 last Thursday. She joined the ANC at the age of 29 and also served as the party’s Women’s League president. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, and the ceremony will incorporate military honours. Ramaphosa has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country from today to the evening of the funeral.

Stay tuned for more news………….