News 14:00

BULLETIN 22 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Kubayi is not extending the window for public comments on the Protected Disclosures Bill
# The UN is concerned about delays in the transition plan for Gaza
# And soccer: Iran’s players apply for Canadian visas in Turkey

# Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the window for public comments on the Protected Disclosure Act will not be extended. Civil society organisations called for an extension, citing serious shortcomings and limited public awareness. The legislation seeks to overhaul the whistleblower protection framework by introducing stronger safeguards, clearer reporting procedures, and financial incentives for people who disclose wrongdoing. Spokesperson Palesa Rammitlwa says they have received a significant number of comments:

# The Department of Home Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal says only two out of 457 migrants processed in Durban were found to be in the country illegally. The group had been moved to a shelter after seeking protection from anti-migrant groups. KZN Home Affairs manager Cyril Mncwabe says one person was found with a fraudulent permit, while another had received a rejected permit application and was unqualified to remain in South Africa:

# Energy regulator NERSA has launched two public consultation processes as South Africa moves toward a competitive electricity market. The regulator has released papers on wholesale electricity pricing and transitional generation pricing frameworks. NERSA says the proposals aim to support a fair, transparent and financially sustainable electricity market under the South African Wholesale Electricity Market model. Written submissions on the pricing methodology close on the 26th of June, while submissions on the generation pricing framework are due by the sixth of July.

Moving abroad:

# The United Nations says delays in implementing a Security Council-backed transition plan for Gaza will only increase suffering and undermine recovery. A resolution adopted last November endorsed the US peace plan to end the conflict, authorising the Board of Peace transitional authority, and backed an International Stabilisation Force, paving the way for Israeli withdrawal. UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle Eastern peace process, Ramiz Alakbarov, says the current ceasefire framework still represents the best opportunity to prevent renewed large-scale war and begin rebuilding Gaza.

# Soccer: Members of Iran’s national team applied for Canadian visas in Turkey ahead of the World Cup in Northern America. The squad is currently in Ankara before moving to a training camp on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. They will travel from there to the US, where they will play all three of their group matches. They also need access to Canada if they progress to the knockout rounds. The tournament, hosted by Canada, the US and Mexico, starts on the 11th of next month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-11-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-233-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-529-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 102-dollars-20-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….