News 07:00

BULLETIN 3 June 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA welcomes the court ruling against John Hlophe
# There is a 14-percent increase in agricultural exports to the US
# And Zelensky says Putin must get nothing that would justify his aggression

# The DA welcomed its legal victory against the appointment of the MK Party’s member of Parliament, John Hlophe, to the Judicial Service Commission. The High Court in the Western Cape found that Parliament’s decision to appoint Hlophe, a fired judge, to serve on the commission was unconstitutional and invalid. DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille says the ruling upholds the rule of law and protects the integrity of the judiciary.

# Deputy minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, says the government is proud of the continued momentum of the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund. The fund uses an innovative pay-for-performance model to incentivise the placement of young people into sustained, quality jobs. By the end of March, over five-thousand-400 young people had been enrolled, reaching 65-percent of the programme’s enrolment target. More than three-thousand had been placed into quality jobs. Mhlauli says over 70-million-rand has been disbursed to 11 implementing partners:

# South Africa’s farm exports increased by ten-percent in the first quarter to 60-billion-rand. Key exports include citrus, wine, and grapes. Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa chief economist Wandile Sihlobo says this is driven by improved port performance and a 14-percent rise in shipments to the US. Sihlobo warns that this boost may face pressure as a 30-percent US tariff looms next month. Despite contributing only two-percent to GDP, he remains optimistic that agriculture remains a vital job source and continues to post strong trade surpluses.

# Deputy minister of Police, Polly Boshielo, has condemned the brutal killing of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose in Roodepoort, Gauteng. The body of the Grade 8 pupil from Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville was found mutilated in an empty field on Sunday. Her family believes she was targeted because of her identity as a lesbian. Boshielo, who visited Fose’s family on Monday, says the ongoing targeting of women, children, and vulnerable groups is a serious concern:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasised that the key to lasting peace is clear – the aggressor must not receive any reward for war. This comes after a second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without a breakthrough in Istanbul on Monday. Speaking at a summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Zelensky said sanctions against Russia are necessary, adding it is important to seriously limit Moscow’s oil trade:

# Cricket: The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the Women’s 50-over World Cup, scheduled for later this year, will be held at five venues across India and Sri Lanka. India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the men’s Champions Trophy earlier this year prompted the ICC to introduce neutral venues to tournaments hosted by either nation. The tournament will be played in the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam, and the Sri Lankan city of Colombo, a neutral venue where Pakistan will play all their group games.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-84-cents and the euro at 20-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 106-thousand-319-dollar-50-cents. Gold sells at three-thousand-365-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….