News 12:00
BULLETIN 11 May 12 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Parliament weighs up the next steps after the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Phala Phala matter
# The Cape Winelands remain on high alert amid severe weather
# And Netanyahu says it’s time to reset the American-Israeli financial relationship
# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza will meet Parliament’s legal advisors this week following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Phala Phala matter. The allegations concern president Cyril Ramaphosa’s handling of the theft of millions of rand from his farm in Limpopo in February 2020. The court found Parliament’s impeachment rules unconstitutional, forcing lawmakers to revive proceedings against Ramaphosa. Parliament must now establish an impeachment committee to investigate the allegations. Meanwhile, the MK Party plans to table a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa.
Former speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula meanwhile says the ANC abused its parliamentary majority when it rejected the Section 89 panel’s report that Ramaphosa may have violated his oath of office. She told the African Renaissance podcast she is ashamed:
# Heavy rain and strong winds continue to affect the Cape Winelands District Municipality, with disaster teams on high alert. Several low-level bridges, including those at Slanghoek, Scherpenheuwel, Bonnievale, and Lemoenpoort, remain inaccessible due to flooding. Spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto says rising water levels in Gouda are also being monitored closely. Electricity outages affected Witzenberg, De Doorns, and Touws River. Otto urges residents to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas, and keep cell phones charged while following official weather information and updates.
Moving abroad:
# Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel hopes to end its dependence on US military aid within a decade. The country pushes to strengthen ties with Gulf states. Support from the US Congress and the public for Israel has decreased since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Netanyahu told CBS’s 60 Minutes the deteriorating support for Israel in the US correlates with the geometric rise of social media:
# Cricket: Five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have been knocked out of the Indian Premier League. Mumbai suffered a two-wicket defeat to reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, leaving them ninth on the table. Five-time winners Chennai Super Kings defeated Lucknow by five wickets, as they remain rooted to the bottom of the ten-team standings. RCB had climbed to the top of the standings with 14 points, while Chennai is fifth with 12 points. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-739-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-677-dollars-90-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-69-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….