News 08:00

BULLETIN 4 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Business Leadership SA says the country needs a stable coalition government
# Heavy rain, flooding, and snow are affecting parts of South Africa
# And Israel confirms the deaths of four hostages held by Hamas in Gaza

# Business Leadership South Africa says the country needs a stable government that will continue to put the economy on the right track to create jobs and tax revenue. The ANC lost its majority for the first time since 1994. BLSA CEO, Busisiwe Mavuso, says the deals struck now by political parties must be capable of going the distance for a full five-year term. She says the country does not need a spectacle of votes of no confidence and repeat elections seen in some countries where coalitions are the norm.

Meanwhile, the Azanian People’s Organisation says the country finds itself at a crossroads, where a coalition government needs to be formed. After losing its majority, the ANC is reportedly leaning toward a so-called confidence and supply agreement, possibly with the DA and IFP as its preferred partners. Azapo’s spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena, says the country needs a smooth transition into the seventh administration:

# The South African Weather Service says the storm that wreaked havoc over parts of KwaZulu-Natal was a tornado. The disruptive rain and heavy winds wreaked havoc in Tongaat, Ballito, and the Durban CBD. Widespread structural, road, and infrastructure damage has been reported, but no injuries or fatalities. The South African Weather Service’s chief forecaster, Kevin Rae, says more rain is expected across high-lying parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal including possible snow:

# The Israel Defence Forces says it has established that four hostages being held in Gaza have died. It says the four named British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Amiram Cooper, were found during an Israeli operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. More than 250 people were taken hostage and moved to Gaza during Hamas’ October seventh attack on Israel, and 105 were released during a temporary truce in November last year.

# Tennis: Defending champion Novak Djokovic endured a five-set marathon against Argentine’s Francisco Cerundolo to make the French Open quarterfinals. The Serb won, 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, to clinch a record-breaking 370 Grand Slam match wins. Djokovic will next face Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev became the highest seed to fall after losing to Australia’s Alex de Minaur, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. Djokovic, who is nursing a knee injury, says he was in pain during different stages of the match:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-55-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-172-dollars-48-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-344-dollars-41-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….