News 08:00

BULLETIN 1 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Thabo Mbeki attributes the current democratic order to the ANC’s majority rule era
# The Public Servants Association calls for collective support on Workers’ Day
# And, Zachary Porthen will lead the Junior Boks in a historic U20 Rugby Championship match

# Former president Thabo Mbeki says the democratic order enjoyed in South Africa today is owed to the strides made during the ANC’s era as the majority ruling party. Addressing a gathering at Freedom Park in Pretoria, Mbeki emphasised the party’s role in establishing democratic institutions such as the Constitutional Court and the Electoral Commission. He highlights the ANC’s governance as pivotal in shaping South Africa’s democratic and non-racial society:

# The Public Servants Association commemorates Workers’ Day with heartfelt appreciation for workers’ indispensable contributions. The PSA says the occasion symbolises the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights and social justice, with unions playing a pivotal role. It acknowledges workers’ challenges, including stagnant wages and job insecurity. The association’s Claude Naiker reaffirms the PSA’s commitment to supporting workers’ rights through collective bargaining, promoting fair compensation and secure working conditions:

# The organisation NotInMyName has expressed unease after the Electoral Commission met with US ambassador Reuben Brigety. The movement’s president Siyabulela Jentile asserts South Africa’s sovereignty, and calls for transparency from the IEC regarding the purpose of the meeting and all diplomatic engagements. He also criticises the DA’s letter to secretary of State Antony Blinken, seeking foreign intervention due to concerns over potential interference in the elections. Jentile calls for vigilance to safeguard the elections’ legitimacy.

# Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared plans to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, regardless of whether a cease-fire and hostage release deal is reached with Hamas. Despite warnings from the United States, Netanyahu stated the war would continue until Israel achieved all its objectives in Rafah. Efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel have been at an impasse, with indirect talks showing little progress. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, expressed hope Hamas would accept what he described as Israel’s extraordinarily generous offer for a truce.

# And finally rugby, Zachary Porthen will lead the Junior Springboks against New Zealand tomorrow in the opening round of the inaugural Under-20 Rugby Championship in Queensland, Australia. The former SA Schools captain is one of a few players who also featured in last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town, where the Junior Boks finished third. The others are Asad Moos, Jurenzo Julius and Litelihle Bester. JF van Heerden was named among the replacements and is set to make an impact off the bench.

Stay tuned for more news………….