News 09:00

BULLETIN 21 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An ANC study group believes the Ramaphosa-Trump meeting will yield positive outcomes
# The National Assembly adopts new donation thresholds for political parties
# And the UN is struggling to distribute aid in Gaza

# The ANC study group in International Relations and Cooperation believes president Cyril Ramaphosa’s meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, will yield positive outcomes that will benefit all South Africans. The two leaders are set to meet at the White House today. The study group says the visit represents a critical opportunity to strengthen diplomatic relations, advance economic cooperation, and promote South Africa’s interests on the global stage. It adds that this moment also offers a valuable chance to correct misconceptions and clarify misinformation.

# The National Assembly has adopted a report proposing the upper limit for donations received by political parties, and the disclosure threshold for political parties, independent candidates, and independent representatives. The portfolio committee on Home Affairs recommended that the upper limit of donations is set at 30-million-rand and that the disclosure limit be set at 200-thousand-rand in a financial year. Committee chairperson Mosa Chabane says they took into consideration the balance of running political parties and the need for transparency:

# Two City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers have been arrested on charges of kidnapping and extortion. This follows an internal investigation by the Safety and Security Investigations Unit. It is alleged that the officers attached to the Metal Theft Unit kidnapped two men in Khayelitsha and demanded a ransom for their release. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says they will not hesitate to investigate and take the required action when wrongdoing is uncovered:

# The United Nations says no aid has been distributed in Gaza despite trucks carrying aid, including flour, baby food, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs, having started to cross the border. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu lifted the eleven-week aid blockade on Sunday, allowing a basic amount of food to enter Gaza. UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, says the aid operation was made complex as Israel requires the organisation to offload supplies on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing:

# Rugby: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will make his first appearance in an England squad since November as he steps up his recovery from a dislocated shoulder. Feyi-Waboso was included in England’s 33-man squad for a two-day training camp ahead of their summer fixtures. The 22-year-old Exeter winger has not played in 2025 after surgery to repair an injury sustained during club duty in December. He could feature in Exeter’s final Premiership match of the season against Sale on 31 May.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-90-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-3-cents and Bitcoin trades at 106-thousand-952-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-306-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….