News 13:00

BULLETIN 8 May 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# George municipality issues a plea for safety equipment and provisions
# The Free State Agriculture Department says farm murders create panic and uncertainty among farmers
# And, Maradona’s 1986 World Cup Golden Ball trophy is to be auctioned

# The George municipality is appealing for support for emergency personnel at the site of the collapsed building. Donations of safety equipment and supplies, including safety goggles, headlamps, clipboards, and food, can be delivered to the tent site at 79 Victoria Street, manned by Gift of the Givers and LoveGeorge. Financial contributions are also welcomed, with details provided by the municipality. Monetary donations can be made to the George Municipality Relief and Charitable Fund.

# The Free State Department of Agriculture says the murders of elderly couple Christo and Christa Morrison at Rietfontein farm has created panic and uncertainty amongst farmers over their safety and security. The department views such incidents as threatening food security and job creation, as one loss of a farmer is too many. The department’s spokesperson, Zimasa Mbewu, says farmers are the ones who bear the brunt of ensuring that there is sufficient food for the province and the nation:

# The Public Servants Association calls for inclusivity for persons with disabilities and women in the workplace during Workers’ Month. They support the Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in advocating for the protection of disabled persons’ rights. The PSA calls for strict enforcement of laws like the Employment Equity Act to safeguard disabled employees’ rights. The association’s Reuben Maleka says closing economic gaps for disabled persons is vital, urging employers to promote equal treatment and offer equal opportunities.

# Soccer: Argentinian legend Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy from the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned off next month. The award, believed to have been stolen, resurfaced in 2016 among other lots that were acquired from a private collection at auction in Paris. Maradona, who died in 2020, won the award after leading Argentina to their World Cup title in Mexico, where he scored five goals in the tournament. This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-57-cents and the euro at 19-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-180-dollars-30-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-308-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

# And finally, new research highlights the potential of using plant extracts from Africa’s rich biodiversity as safer alternatives to synthesised skin-lightening products. Laurentia Opperman, who recently completed her Master of Science in Medical Biosciences at the University of the Western Cape, conducted the research. She says Tyrosinase was a key focus of her research. The enzyme is found in plant and animal tissues that plays a critical role in melanogenesis, which is the process by which melanin is produced:

Stay tuned for more news………….