News 12:00

BULLETIN 30 May 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# GIWUSA says the 25 basis points rate cut is an insult to workers
# The Western Cape government opposes the NHI Act draft regulations, citing risks to health services
# And in rugby, three new players join the Junior Boks’ final preparation camp ahead of the U20 Championship

# The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa has expressed disappointment with the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. The union’s president, Mametlwe Sebei, says this low reduction is an insult to workers and the poor, who are drowning in debt. He adds that this proves that SARB serves financiers and not workers:

# The Western Cape government opposes the new draft rules for the National Health Insurance Act, which outline how the NHI Fund will be governed. The government believes the rules could negatively affect service delivery and health systems in all provinces. Premier Alan Winde supports universal healthcare but believes the current rules threaten the smooth running of health services in the province:

# Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has slammed Israeli attacks on Gaza as collective punishment of the civilian population, in some of Moscow’s strongest criticism of Israel. The Israeli military has recently stepped up its offensive in what it says is a renewed push to destroy Hamas. Lavrov said what is happening in Gaza is incomprehensible and indescribable. Russia and Israel have traditionally enjoyed warm relations. Almost a fifth of Israel’s population is Russian-speaking and Moscow has for years strove to maintain cordial ties with all major powers in the Middle East.

# Rugby: Three new players have been included in the Junior Springboks’ training squad for the final preparation camp ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy next month. The players are flyhalf, Ian van der Merwe, hooker, Shaun Schürman, and loosehead prop, Rambo Kubheka. Returning to the squad are Jaco Grobbelaar, Arno van der Merwe, Stephanus Linde, Jaco Williams and Alzeadon Felix. The Junior Boks will train for the next three weeks in Stellenbosch before the 30-man squad flies out to Italy on June 24th.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-84-cents and the euro at 20-rand-24-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-197-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-297-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-56-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Thirteen-year-old, Faizan Zaki, outlasted eight other accomplished spellers to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, US. From Allen, Texas, he finished as the runner-up last year after losing in a lightning-round tiebreaker. His winning word was éclaircissement. Including Faizan, whose parents emigrated from southern India, 30 of the past 36 champions have been Indian American, a run that began with Nupur Lala’s victory in 1999.

Stay tuned for more news………….