News 08:00

BULLETIN 26 May 8 am 

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls on all South Africans to vote for the democratic renewal
# The Justice Department is aware of the arrest of Ajay and Anil Gupta in India
# And, rugby: The Unbeaten Griquas are crowned the SA Cup champions

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has asked South Africans to vote for the democratic renewal, national rejuvenation and socio-economic transformation agenda to continue. He spoke at the party’s Siyanqoba Rally at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Ramaphosa wants South Africans to make a clear choice for unity and progress and to reject the social and political forces working hard to undermine the gains of freedom over the last three decades:

In Limpopo, the EFF leader Julius Malema says there is nothing the party has not done to speak to the people of South Africa to vote for it in next week’s elections. Now it is in the voters’ hands. Malema was speaking at the EFF’s final rally at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo. He says the EFF is alive and well in all corners of South Africa, having campaigned extensively all over the country:

# The Department of Justice plans to contact officials in India following the arrest of Ajay and Anil Gupta for alleged involvement in the death of a prominent builder in Dehradun. News24 quotes Justice Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri as saying South Africa’s arrest warrants were for Rajesh and Atul Gupta, but formal processes are nevertheless under way through the high commissioner in India. Anil and Ajay were arrested after builder Satinder Singh Sawhney named them in a suicide note before plunging out off a seven-storey apartment. 

More news from India is that at least 27 people have died in a massive fire at a games arcade. Local media report several victims were children. Flames and a huge pall of smoke could be seen over the building in Rajkot, in the state Gujarat. Local police said yesterday identifying the heavily burned bodies is proving difficult. A special investigation team is searching for the cause of the tragedy. Prime minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep distress and said his thoughts are with those who had lost loved ones.

# And, rugby: Griquas finished off a perfect campaign by winning the SA Cup – their first major trophy in a decade. They defeated arch-rivals Pumas 46-24 in Kimberley. Pieter Bergh’s side led from the onset, racing into a 29-0 lead in the first 25 minutes. They never lost the lead to clinch a memorable final played in front of a big crowd at their home ground as they took the game away from the gritty Pumas from Mpumalanga.

Stay tuned for more news………….