News 11:00

BULLETIN 1 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SA embassy in London boasts the highest number of registered voters
# Over 37-thousand civil servants top the R1-million salary mark
# And police raid the Columbia University campus to break up a pro-Palestinian protest

# The Electoral Commission says the South African Embassy in London tops the list with 19-thousand-518 registered voters, the highest among all stations. At home Joubert Park holds about 15-thousand registered voters, the highest domestically. Out-of-country voting will occur at diplomatic missions on 17 and 18 May, with voting taking place ten days before the general election on 29 May. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo urges voters to vote at their registered stations:

Meanwhile the DA accused the ANC of using public funds to further its party agenda abroad, allegedly attempting to manipulate overseas elections. According to the party, the ANC allegedly convened a party-political meeting with civil servants from the South African Foreign Service, instructing them to assist with the ANC’s voter mobilisation strategy abroad. The DA’s Emma Powell insists civil servants, funded by taxpayers, must serve all citizens abroad, regardless of political affiliation. She urges the Electoral Commission to sanction diplomats involved in the meeting:

# More than 37-thousand civil servants in national and provincial governments earn over one-million-rand annually, excluding state-owned enterprise and municipal employees. News24 says Public Service and Administration minister Noxolo Kiviet confirmed this, stating during the 2023/2024 financial year, 45.3-billion-rand was spent on their salaries. This is expected to rise to 46.8-billion-rand in 2024/2025 financial year due to salary increases. Additionally, 117 employees earned over two-million-rand in the 2023/2024 fiscal year alone. More than 100-billion-rand was spent on the salaries of employees who earn up to 327-thousand-819-rand a year. Currently, a third of total government spending has also been allocated to the compensation of its employees. 

# Police have raided Columbia University and arrested around 30 to 40 pro-Palestinian protesters. The protest began when students barricaded the entrance of Hamilton Hall at Columbia’s campus and unfurled a Palestinian flag out of a window. They said they had renamed the building in honour of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl killed in a strike on Gaza in February. The raid came hours after the mayor of New York City said a similar demonstration at the Ivy League school must end.

# And finally rugby: Three members of the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup squad will accompany the Webb Ellis Cup on the third stop of the Rugby World Cup trophy blitz, which heads to Kimberley on Friday. Malcolm Marx, Duane Vermeulen and Deon Fourie will take the coveted gold cup to the Northern Cape, where a hive of activity awaits. The Boks will be at the Diamond Pavilion Shopping Centre, before they head to the city’s stadium for the top-of-the-table SA Cup clash between Griquas and the Pumas.

Stay tuned for more news………….