News 13:00

BULLETIN 15 May 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is to visit the George disaster site tomorrow
# Minister Thulas Nxesi reiterates unemployment is a global challenge 
# And tennis: Players like Williams, Halep and Thiem miss out on a French Open wildcard 

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit the George disaster site tomorrow, following the fatal collapse of a partially built residential building. Since the fatal incident last week Monday, government and its disaster management agencies at all levels have mobilised personnel and resources towards the rescue efforts and providing support to the survivors and families of the victims. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the president remains deeply attentive to the rescue and recovery efforts and has expressed his deep condolences to the family and friends of the victims. The death toll has reached 33.

# Employment and Labour minister, Thulas Nxesi, says unemployment is not just a South African challenge but a global one. Statistics South Africa revealed that the official unemployment rate of the country grew from 32.1- to 32.9-percent in the first quarter of this year. Nxesi says technological advancements are replacing many jobs, prompting the need for solutions to create sustainable employment opportunities:

# The South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Gauteng has alerted residents and motorists in Mnandi, Centurion, about reports of a large kudu cow on the loose. The centre’s Leanne Hezlett has urged people to report sightings of the wild animal to authorities. Yesterday they darted a young male kudu that was on the loose, but unfortunately the animal died. Hezlett has also warned against attempting to capture the distressed and aggressive animal:

# Tennis: Grand Slam champions Venus Williams, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, and Emma Raducanu have not received wildcards for the French Open due to their current rankings. Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem, who will retire at the end of the season, also missed out on a wildcard. Thiem, Wozniacki, and Raducanu can still earn spots in the main draw through qualifying, which begins on Monday. The second Grand Slam of the year begins in Paris on the 26th of this month.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-942-dollars-47-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-372-dollars-99-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Eight watches belonging to Formula One icon Michael Schumacher sold for around 74-million-rand at an auction in Geneva, Switzerland. The top piece in the sale was a watch given to the German racing superstar by former Ferrari CEO Jean Todt as a Christmas present in 2004. Schumacher, who was involved in a skiing accident in 2013, a year after he retired from the sport, shares the record for seven F1 titles with British driver Lewis Hamilton.

Stay tuned for more news………….