News 09:00

BULLETIN 12 June 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Patriotic Alliance will meet with the MK Party over coalition talks
# The DA in Gauteng criticises the Social Development Department’s underspending
# And president Ramaphosa mourns the passing of Malawi’s vice president Saulos Chilima

# The Patriotic Alliance says it will be meeting with the MK Party today to discuss the general election results and potential coalition agreements. The party recently met with the ANC over the proposal for the formation of a government of national unity. The Patriotic Alliance has secured nine seats in the National Assembly and a further ten seats in provincial legislatures across the country. The party says its approach is one of seeking consensus wherever possible and agreeing to disagree when necessary.

# The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa has raised concerns about floods and freezing temperatures as the initiation season begins. As dozens of young men start their initiation ceremonies into manhood in a few days, general secretary Zolani Mkiva emphasised to Newzroom Afrika the need for boys to be in good health, with adequate blankets and heating. He stressed the importance of ensuring initiation schools are safe from floods:

# The DA in Gauteng says the provincial Department of Social Development has dismally failed to meet its expenditure targets, while vulnerable residents continue to be deprived of social and welfare services. According to the fourth quarter report for the 2023/2024 financial year, the department has underspent on its budget by over 554-million-rand. The DA’s, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, says these funds could have been better utilised by supporting projects such as non-profit organisations:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the government and people of Malawi on the passing of vice-president Saulos Chilima and nine others in an aircraft crash. The plane went missing after it failed to land at the Mzuzu International Airport on Monday. The wreckage of the plane was located near a hill in the Chikangawa Forest yesterday. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the president has described Chilima as a youthful leader, who advanced the aspirations of his country:

# Cricket: Australia have qualified for the final eight at the Twenty20 World Cup after beating Namibia by nine wickets in Antigua and Barbuda today. Spinner Adam Zampa took four wickets as Namibia was bowled out for 72. Zampa has become the first Australian to take 100 T20 international wickets. In reply, Travis Head top-scored with an unbeaten 34, as Australia reached the target in the sixth over. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s must-win game with Nepal has been abandoned due to heavy rain in Florida.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-66-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-454-dollars-19-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-312-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….