News 08:00

BULLETIN 9 May 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Women’s League urges Parliament to act without fear or favour following the Phala Phala Constitutional Court ruling 
# A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is announced
# And rugby: A last minute penalty try earns the Stormers a draw against Ulster

# The MK Party Women’s League says the Constitutional Court ruling on the Phala Phala matter is a step forward for accountability and justice. The league’s Lindi Mtshali says the case involving president Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2020 farm burglary, where nearly ten-million-rand was allegedly stolen, shows that no one is above the Constitution and attempts to shield political leaders from scrutiny have failed:

Meanwhile Rise Mzansi says the ruling is a reminder that Parliament must act within the law and cannot use its majority to avoid accountability involving president Cyril Ramaphosa. The party says the ruling must be implemented without delay. Rise Mzansi’s Mabine Seabe calls for a new, transparent inquiry into the farm burglary in Limpopo, where foreign currency was reportedly hidden and then stolen:

# The agricultural organisation TLU SA has expressed support for trade union Solidarity, challenging the broad-based black economic empowerment sector codes for the legal profession in the High Court in Pretoria. The organisation warns similar rules in agriculture and other industries could harm economic growth and create uncertainty. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says South Africa needs policies focused on jobs and investment rather than racial classification:

# A three-day ceasefire has been agreed by the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, as well as an exchange of prisoners, following a request from the America president, Donald Trump. The ceasefire will run from today until Monday and has been confirmed by Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin’s office. The US president said it will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of one-thousand prisoners from each country.  In his reaction president Zelensky said he expects the United States to ensure that the Russian side fulfils the agreements.

# Rugby: A penalty try in the 80th minute snatched the Stormers a 38-all draw in their United Rugby Championship match against Ulster in Belfast.  The penalty try was awarded by referee Andrea Piardi because there was a clear high tackle and head contact on Stormers wing Leolin Zas from Ulster scrumhalf Nathan Doak as he tried to force his way over the tryline. The penalty-try decision meant the Stormers got three league points out of the game.

In another game on Friday Glasgow beat Cardiff 40-17, to edge the Scottish team back to the top of the log. The Stormers will end the penultimate round in second position with the final league game against Cardiff to come.

And in more rugby news, the Springbok Embrose Papier is set to become the Bulls’ most experienced scrumhalf in this afternoon’s United Rugby Championship encounter with Italian side Zebre Parma in Pretoria. He currently shares the record of 170 matches with late Bok number nine, Joost van der Westhuizen. Papier will start the match on the bench, alongside Bok flyhalf Handré Pollard, while another Bok, Willie le Roux, and Paul de Wet will be the half-back pairing in the starting team. Papier have already scored nine tries this season.

Stay tuned for more news………….