News 13:00

BULLETIN 11 May 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Insurers activate disaster plans amid the Western Cape storms
# The Christian Forum says the ANC must apologise to South Africans following the Constitutional Court judgement on the Phala Phala matter
# And tennis: Ruud says Sinner isn’t always properly appreciated for what he has achieved

# South African insurers have activated catastrophe claims protocols following severe storms across the Western Cape. Heavy rain, flooding and gale-force winds caused widespread damage, including uprooted trees and roof damage at the Whale Coast Mall in Hermanus. The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall. Insurers, including Santam, say hundreds of claims have already been lodged. Residents are urged to document damages, report claims immediately and avoid unnecessary travel during the severe weather conditions.

Inclement weather also continues to affect the Cape Winelands District Municipality. Several low-level bridges, including those at Slanghoek, Scherpenheuwel, Bonnievale, and Lemoenpoort, remain inaccessible due to flooding. Mayor Elna von Schlicht says electricity outages affects Witzenberg, De Doorns, and Touws River. She urges residents to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas, and keep cell phones charged while following official weather information and updates:

# The South African National Christian Forum says the ANC must offer an unreserved, public apology to the people of South Africa. Forum leader, Marothi Mashashane says this apology should specifically name the error, namely the misuse of a Parliamentary majority to block accountability in the Phala Phala matter. He says by admitting that the organisation placed the interests of an individual above the Constitution, it will begin to dismantle the wall of resentment between the movement and the masses.

# Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber says over 100-thousand smart ID cards were processed within two months since launching the expanded digital partnership with commercial banks. He says this initiative aims to eliminate long queues by bringing services to 110 bank branches nationwide, aiming for one-thousand with a five-minute, paperless, and biometric-based application process. Schreiber urges South Africans to visit their banks for smart ID applications:

# Tennis: Norwegian Casper Ruud believes Jannik Sinner is not always properly appreciated. The world number one is aiming for a record-extending sixth consecutive Masters One-thousand title at home at the Italian Open. Sinner’s winning prospects improved when his highest-ranked challengers, Novak Djokovic, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur, were all knocked out. Ruud says Sinner is beatable, but they will have to catch him on a favourable day:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 19-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-36-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-876-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-659-dollars-54-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….