News 12:00

BULLETIN 20 May 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

#  President Cyril Ramaphosa mourns the death of Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi
# The Defence Department rejects Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s request for legal cost assistance
# And tennis: Alexander Zverev is confident ahead of the French Open after winning the Italian Open 

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the passing of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others. They died in a helicopter crash after it got into difficulties in heavy fog in the north of the country. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the president has expressed shock at this extraordinary, unthinkable tragedy that has claimed a remarkable leader of a nation with whom South Africa enjoys strong bilateral relations:

# The Department of Defence and Military Veterans has rejected former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s request to have her legal fees paid by the department. She is facing corruption charges for allegedly soliciting and accepting 2.5-million-rand in bribes from a contractor while she was minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Mapisa-Nqakula is currently out on 50-thousand-rand bail. Current minister Thandi Modise says thorough consideration with relevant authorities was taken in this matter:

# The Western Cape Department of Social Development says a severe staff shortage of social workers is a major challenge. Social workers in the province are overseeing up to 100 cases each at a time and the department has a ratio of one social worker for every five-thousand people. In rural areas, this ratio becomes one social worker for two-thousand-500 people. The department says it is currently reviewing its operational structure to address the caseloads and the chief director is looking into staffing issues.

# Tennis: Germany’s Alexander Zverev says he is confident heading into the French Open, after winning his second Italian Open title in Rome. The third seed defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry, 6-4, 7-5, to claim his sixth Masters One-thousand crown. This is the 27-year-old’s biggest title since he suffered an ankle injury in the Roland Garros semifinals in 2022. Zverev, who climbs to number four in the world rankings today, says he hopes he can carry this momentum to Paris:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-16-cents and the euro at 19-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-917-dollars-611-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-440-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is World Bee Day to raise awareness of the importance of the pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development. This year’s theme is Bee Engaged with Youth, highlighting the importance of involving young people in beekeeping and pollinator conservation efforts. The United Nations says the goal is to strengthen measures to protect bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply.

Stay tuned for more news………….