News 14:00

BULLETIN 5 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The police say Gauteng has a challenge of multiple murders
# South Africans are urged to donate blood during National Blood Donor month
# And Rugby: Rassie Erasmus names an exciting Springbok squad

# Gauteng provincial police commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni says murder was reduced by 10.8-percent between January and March this year, however, Gauteng has a challenge of multiple murders. He says the leading factors behind murders are arguments, misunderstanding, road rage, provocation, closely followed by robbery. Mthombeni says murders in Gauteng are mainly committed at a public place and then at the residence of the victim or perpetrator:

# The South African National Blood Service is calling on citizens to donate blood this June, marking National Blood Donor Month. Speaking to eNCA, CEO Ravi Reddy says while there’s currently no shortage, ongoing donations are vital for surgeries and emergencies. With 14 June as World Blood Donor Day, Reddy urges citizens to celebrate by committing to donate, as 15-percent of donors do not return despite a rise in new donors.

# UN Trade and Development has warned that the global ocean economy faces mounting pressure from environmental and political shocks. In its Global Trade Update June 2025 report, the organisation emphasised the ocean’s vital role in jobs, food, innovation, and trade. Valued at 39-quadrillion-rand and supporting 100-million jobs, the sector faces risks from climate change, pollution, and rising tariffs. Ahead of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference next week in Nice, France, the organisation urges stronger ocean governance, green investment, fairer trade, and climate-adaptive marine infrastructure.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named the same 54 players, nine of whom are uncapped, that attended the second national alignment camp in Cape Town last month. This large training squad is for the opening stages of the international season, which kicks off on 28 June against the Barbarians. The squad includes 31 Rugby World Cup players. The nine uncapped players in the group are Marnus van der Merwe, Neethling Fouché, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, Renzo du Plessis, Vincent Tshituka, Juarno Augustus, Ethan Hooker, and Ntokozo Makhaza.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-76-cents and the euro at 20-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-772-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-395-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

# And finally: United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, says plastic pollution is choking the planet, harming ecosystems, well-being, and the climate. Today marks World Environment Day under the theme, Putting an End to Plastic Pollution. An estimated 20-million metric tons of plastic litter end up in the environment every year, and this number is expected to increase significantly by 2040. Guterres says the world must come together to end the scourge of plastic pollution:

Stay tuned for more news………….