News 09:00

BULLETIN 11 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A report shows that at least 15-million-rand was stolen from Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm and not just 9.5-million-rand
# COPE joins calls for the president to fire minister Tolashe
# And, the British prime minister remains resolute despite calls for him to resign

# At least 15-million-rand was stolen from president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in February 2020, and not the nearly ten-million-rand that was declared. This is according to News24, which has obtained the finances of Imanuwela David. He is charged alongside two others with stealing the cash, which was in dollars. In Ramaphosa’s submission to the Section 89 independent panel, roughly 9.5-million-rand was stolen. According to News24, police have been able to connect David to cash deposits or direct cash transactions totalling nearly 15-million-rand in 2020 and 2021 alone.

# The Congress of the People has joined calls for president Cyril Ramaphosa to fire minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe. She is alleged to have redirected a donation of vehicles meant for the ANC Women’s League to her children. It is also alleged that her former household employee was made to pay half her government-funded monthly salary to her daughter. COPE’s Pakes Dikgetsi says Ramaphosa’s failure to act decisively reinforces the perception that government is soft on corruption:

# The MK Party is calling for the immediate suspension of two senior police officers, arrested for allegedly being involved in the unlawful trade of precious metals, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice. The two were apprehended in a coordinated anti-corruption operation in Gauteng, while a Durban businessman was also arrested. The MK Party says these arrests confirm the deep structural rot within SAPS. It warns that allowing senior officials implicated in serious criminal allegations to remain in office would undermine public trust and compromise ongoing investigations.

# UK prime minister Keir Starmer says the latest election results don’t weaken his resolve to deliver what he promised the British public, but strengthen it. Some Labour members of Parliament have called for him to step down, following a disastrous set of local election results in which the party lost support to Reform UK and the Greens. The party also lost power in Wales, where it has enjoyed political dominance for a century. Starmer says voters have sent a clear message:

# Soccer: Arsenal defeated West Ham 1-nil to move closer to winning their first Premier League title in 22 years. The Gunners took the lead through Leandro Trossard’s deflected strike in the 83rd minute. West Ham saw Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time strike controversially ruled out by the video assistant referee for a foul on Gunners’ keeper David Raya. Mikel Arteta’s side is now five points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Arteta gave credit to the referees:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-33-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-744-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-668-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-57-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….