News 09:00

BULLETIN 22 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa extends the deployment of the Defence Force at Eskom power stations
# Numsa is going to strike at SA Steel Mills over the dismissal of 162 workers
# And South Africa wins a record-breaking 38th gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deployment of the South African National Defence Force personnel at Eskom. The president deployed 746 soldiers to Eskom’s power stations in December 2022. This was to help police protect power stations where sabotage, theft, and other crimes may threaten the functioning of stations and the supply of electricity. The estimated cost is about 203.9-million-rand. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has also extended the deployment of two-thousand-300 SANDF members to assist police to prevent and combat illegal mining activities. The cost is estimated to be 349.9-million-rand.

# Metalworkers union Numsa says workers at SA Steel Mills, trading as Alfeco Holdings, in Johannesburg will withdraw their labour starting today. This comes as the company has dismissed 162 workers for participating in a strike on the 16th of last month. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says the Labour Court on Monday confirmed the strike was protected and ordered the company’s management not to discipline or dismiss workers:

# Amnesty International South Africa has welcomed the International Criminal Court’s application for arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defence minister, and three Hamas leaders. This is for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Israel and in the occupied Gaza Strip. Amnesty International SA says those who are suspected of responsibility for crimes under international law in Israel and Gaza should face trial and accountability, no matter how powerful or how high-ranking they are.

# Soccer: Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has left his role by mutual consent after just one season. The 52-year-old Argentinian led the Blues to the Carabao Cup final, and FA Cup semifinals, and finished sixth in the Premier League. Pochettino says the club is now well-positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come. Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness are on the list of possible replacements.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-7-cents and the euro at 19-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-98-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-756-dollars-8-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-415-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

# And finally, South Africa’s Chelsea Flower Show exhibit, inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape Mountains, won gold in London. Designer Leon Kluge and artist Tristan Woudberg, led a group of volunteers to create this year’s multi-award display which included large clay sculptures that formed the backdrop for a display of fynbos cut flowers. This is South Africa’s 38th Gold medal in its history at the Chelsea Flower dating back to 1976. Kluge says 22-thousand stems were used in the display:

Stay tuned for more news………….