News 08:00

BULLETIN 27 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls on parties to refrain from interference with the electoral process
# The Election Commission is ready for the 1.6-million South Africans who will cast their special votes
# And a probe is launched after the discovery of a hand in the rubble of the collapsed George building

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern at reports about the obstruction of election activities, including unlawful entry at the Electoral Commission storage sites in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. MK Party members circulated videos of activities at the IEC storage sites in Chesterville, KwaZulu-Natal, and Hammarsdale in Mpumalanga, claiming they depicted an attempt to rig the general elections. The IEC has dismissed the allegations. Ramaphosa says the electoral process must be respected:

# The Electoral Commission says it is ready to administer the special votes set to be cast today and tomorrow, ahead of Election Day on Wednesday. More than 1.6 million South Africans have been approved for special votes. Some 624-thousand-593 voters are expected to be visited by IEC staff with the rest expected to visit their voting stations, between 9 am and 5 pm. IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi, says Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are the provinces with the most approved special votes:

# Western Cape police have opened an inquest docket after a hand was discovered among the ruins of the collapsed Victoria Street building in George at the weekend. The discovery follows a two-week search and rescue operation at the construction site, where 62 people were rescued, with 33 confirmed dead. Nine people are still in hospital. Police say the human remains recovered have been sent to the laboratory for forensic analysis, to determine the origin and whether it could be linked to a victim who was rescued.

# Libyan authorities in Benghazi are hosting a delegation of the Pan-African Parliament to discuss sustainable solutions for migration. PAP president Fortune Charumbira acknowledges the extent of the migration problem and emphasises the need for durable solutions. Charumbira says his team battled to enter Libyan territory due to stringent measures designed to control migration. This made them aware of the impact of illegal migration, even on those with legitimate business in Libya.

# Cricket: The Kolkata Knight Riders recorded an emphatic eight-wicket victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad to claim their third Indian Premier League title. Andre Russell took three wickets as the Sunrisers were bowled out for 113, the lowest total in an IPL final. In reply, captain Shreyas Iyer starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 52 as Kolkata chased down the target in just 10.3 overs. Iyer says the team was impressive throughout the tournament:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-970-dollars-29-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-346-dollars-7-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….