News 13:00

BULLETIN 12 June 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electoral Commission reaffirms its commitment to inclusive voting
# The DA calls on Johannesburg’s mayor to prioritise water supply restoration in Parktown West and surrounding areas
# And: The World Bank cuts its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5-percent due to the Iran war

# The Electoral Commission says it remains committed to ensuring all South Africans can participate fully in elections. General Manager for Civic and Democracy Education and Research, Moagisi Letlhaku, reaffirmed the commission’s support for inclusive participation and accessibility for marginalised communities. She assured voters that ballot secrecy is protected through the Universal Ballot Template, which assists voters with visual impairments to cast their votes independently and confidentially. The IEC says inclusive and accessible elections remain central to strengthening democracy and protecting every citizen’s right to vote.

# Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka says the startling revelations of systemic wrongdoing exposed through the State Capture and Madlanga Commissions are consequences of human character failures, rather than skill or experience. Gcaleka was addressing religious leaders’ Winter School gathering at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape. The Public Protector says evidence led at the commissions have shown that those who committed offences, were highly-educated and experienced. She added that the country need to ensure that the educational system is centred around ethics and around human character.

# The DA in Johannesburg is calling on mayor Dada Morero to urgently address the prolonged water supply interruption experienced by residents supplied by the notorious Commando water system. Communities stretching from Parktown West to Brixton have been without water for nearly two weeks following Rand Water maintenance that commenced in late May. The DA’s Kyle Jacobs says what was promised as a routine intervention has spiralled into a full-blown crisis:

# The World Bank says the Iran war is projected to slow global economic growth to its weakest pace since the Covid-19 pandemic, and renewed hostilities could cause it to slump further. Global economic growth is forecast at 2.5-percent this year, down from 2.9-percent in 2025. The bank warns that growth could fall to just 1.3-percent if energy supply disruptions intensify and financial markets come under stress. The World Bank also projects growth in developing countries at a post-pandemic low of 3.6-percent this year, down from 4.4-percent in 2025. 

# Cricket: England and Wales Cricket Board managing director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, says they are considering imposing a complete ban on alcohol while players are on international duty. This comes as England captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson are under investigation following an incident in a nightclub in Chelsea on Monday morning. The two have been dropped for next week’s second Test against New Zealand. Key says he won’t make a rash decision on Stokes’ future as captain:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-779-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-223-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….