News 09:00

BULLETIN 22 May 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile condemns the anti-migrant protests and xenophobic violence
# Minister Steenhuisen welcomes the easing of food inflation
# And an angry crowd sets two hospital tents alight where Ebola patients are treated

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has condemned the recent wave of anti-migrant demonstrations linked to anti-illegal-immigration groups, including March and March. Answering questions in the National Assembly yesterday, he warned that immigration issues must be handled through the rule of law and not through mob violence or vigilante actions. Mashatile called on law enforcement agencies to address immigration concerns legally:

# Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the drop in food inflation to its lowest level in 14 months, but warns that soaring fuel prices are threatening South Africa’s agricultural sector. According to the Consumer Price Index data, annual food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation eased to 2.9-percent in April, down from 3.6-percent in March. Steenhuisen says diesel is a crucial input for South African farmers, typically accounting for 11 to 18-percent of total production and logistics costs. He says protecting producers from global energy shocks is necessary for long-term national food security.

# Eastern Cape police have launched a manhunt following four separate murder incidents reported in Walmer, Gqeberha, yesterday. The bodies of six men aged between 23 and 56 were found with multiple gunshot wounds in different areas in Walmer. Police spokesperson, Nobuntu Gantana, says investigators are probing whether the cases may be linked:

# Protesters set alight two hospital tents treating Ebola patients in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday. This comes after relatives of a young man thought to have died from the virus were prevented from taking his body away for burial. Six patients were receiving treatment in the medical tents at the time of the attack. The DRC has recorded 160 deaths linked to Ebola. The World Health Organisation recommends safe and dignified burials for Ebola victims, with trained teams using protective equipment to handle bodies.

# Tennis: Defending champion Coco Gauff will start her French Open title defence against fellow American Taylor Townsend. Her greatest obstacle to the quarterfinals is countrywoman Amanda Anisimova, who hasn’t played since the Miami Open. World number one Aryna Sabalenka, who is still in search of her first Roland Garros triumph, will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round. Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland will open against Australian wildcard Emerson Jones, while Japan’s Naomi Osaka will face German Laura Siegemund.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-45-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-8-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-801-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-529-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….