News 11:00

BULLETIN 15 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament wants a legal opinion on the possibility of charging AfriForum and Solidarity
# Iran is willing to make nuclear concessions to the US
# And former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks has died

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on International Relations and Cooperation wants National Assembly speaker, Thoko Didiza, to get a legal opinion on the possibility of charging AfriForum and Solidarity. The committee’s chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo, says the organisations are at the forefront of spreading misinformation about South Africa to the US. This follows the departure of 49 Afrikaners, who have been granted refugee status in America. Mahumapelo says there is no genocide in the country, as claimed by US president Donald Trump:

# The Free Market Foundation says policymakers don’t care about adopting a realistic, fact-based approach to wealth creation, economic growth, or even governance. The foundation says despite president Cyril Ramaphosa’s professed desire to attract 1.2-trillion-rand in direct investment, his government’s policies do not add to this goal. It says foreign investors and companies are chased away by black economic empowerment regulations, which are damaging to the economy. The foundation adds that citizens are still dealing with a race-obsessed authoritarian-wannabe regime.

# The South African Social Security Agency has raised alarm over the daily spread of fake news targeting its services. SASSA spokesperson Andile Tshona confirms there is no double grant payment scheduled for June and denies claims of new pension rules from 10 June. He urges beneficiaries to rely only on official channels, warning that misinformation causes panic and false hope among vulnerable South Africans:

# Iran is reportedly prepared to make concessions related to its nuclear programme to the US in exchange for the immediate lifting of economic sanctions. This comes after president Donald Trump urged Qatar to wield its influence over Iran to persuade it to give up its nuclear programme. Nuclear adviser to the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Shamkhani, says they are willing to get rid of their stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, which can be weaponised, only allowing enriched uranium to the lower levels needed for civilian use.

# Rugby: Former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks has passed away at the age of 37. He reportedly suffered a heart attack last night. Hendricks played 12 Tests for the Boks, scoring five tries, between 2014 and 2015. Domestically, he represented Boland, the Cheetahs, and the Bulls. His Test career was cut short after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition in 2016. Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has paid tribute to Hendricks, saying he made his mark in the sport by inspiring many.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-21-cents and the euro at 20-rand-43-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-344-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-144-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….