News 14:00

BULLETIN 22 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Mashatile outlines South Africa’s roadmap to digital transformation
# The ATM says the budget fails to address the urgent needs of the majority of citizens
# And cricket: The IPL is nearing the business end, with the final in Ahmedabad on 3 June

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has outlined South Africa’s roadmap to digital transformation. He addressed the South Africa-France Investment Conference in Paris, emphasising the growing importance of digital technologies for economic growth. Mashatile says South Africa will focus on developing key digital skills such as artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity:

# The African Transformation Movement says the budget presented by minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana fails to address the urgent needs of the majority of citizens. Spokesperson Zama Ntshona says this budget prioritises the interests of the government of national unity partners, aimed primarily at appeasing their political allies rather than advancing the welfare of the most vulnerable in society:

# Two healthcare workers were gunned down at the St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. The professional nurse and a human resources manager were stationed at the hospital. Provincial Health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo says details of the incident remain unclear. MEC Ntandokazi Capa has expressed shock and called for a thorough investigation. She has extended condolences to the victims’ families and colleagues as police probe the circumstances surrounding the double murder.

# The Gauteng Health Department has welcomed the 100-million-rand allocation from National Treasury to help tackle its ongoing challenges. The money is to support the department’s recapitalisation programme, which aims to refurbish and replace outdated critical equipment and machinery in hospitals. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says an assessment of the current equipment and machinery has been conducted:

# Cricket: The final league match of the Indian Premier League will be played on Tuesday. The first four teams then proceed to the playoffs, starting with the first qualifier between the top-two teams next Thursday. The winner goes straight through to the final on the third of June. The loser awaits the winner of the eliminator in the second qualifier to determine the other finalist. The first qualifier and the eliminator will be played in Mullanpur, and Ahmedabad will host the second qualifier and the final.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-3-cents and the euro at 20-rand-37-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-16-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-723-dollars-14-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-304-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….