News 14:00

BULLETIN 23 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Senzo Mchunu dismisses claims of white genocide in South Africa
# ActionSA says gang violence ravages South African communities
# And cricket: Tim Seifert replaces Jacob Bethell in RCB’s squad for the rest of the IPL

# Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has dismissed claims of a white genocide in South Africa as unfounded and misleading. Addressing the media during the release of the quarterly crime statistics, Mchunu said there was no evidence to support the narrative that white South Africans are being specifically targeted for violent attacks. He urged the public to rely on verified data rather than misinformation circulated online:

Meanwhile, Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo says president Cyril Ramaphosa’s US visit signals a turning point in restoring South Africa-US ties. Sihlobo highlighted growing export momentum in products exported globally in 2024. He also warns that crime remains a nationwide crisis, and calls for unified action to protect economic progress:

# ActionSA says it once again raises the alarm over the surge in gang violence tearing through communities across South Africa, where ruthless gangs turn neighborhoods into warzones. ActionSA’s spokesperson, Matthew George says gang violence is littering the streets of the Cape Flats in the Western Cape, Eldorado Park and Westbury in Gauteng, and Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape with bullet casings and forcing innocent families to live in constant fear:

# Cricket: New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert will join Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the rest of the Indian Premier League after Jacob Bethell from England departed to resume national duty. Seifert is currently playing for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League. Bethell was included in England’s white-ball squads for home matches against the West Indies, starting with the first one-day match in Birmingham on Thursday. RCB has already qualified for the IPL’s play-offs, together with Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-89-cents and the euro at 20-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-975-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-327-dollars-71-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

# And finally: President Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Ma Gertrude Shope, who passed away at 99. She is remembered as an educator, trade unionist, president of the ANC Women’s League, and Rivonia trial co-conspirator, and spent decades fighting apartheid at home and abroad. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Ramaphosa has described her as a national hero and honoured her unwavering service to South Africa’s liberation and democracy.

Stay tuned for more news………….