News 15:00

BULLETIN 3 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Johannesburg councillors owe 2.7-million-rand in rates and taxes 
# The ANC Youth League is confident the ruling party will win the elections 
# And cricket: There are only three more Tests for the Proteas this year

# Johannesburg councillors collectively owe 2.7-million-rand in rates and taxes, with 11 overdue by three months. The city’s finance director, Kgamanyane Maphologela, says progress is made with debt collection due to internal initiatives while non-compliant accounts face disconnection until paid. Johannesburg seeks to prioritise enforcing credit control policies on employees and councillors. Non-compliant councillors violating the Municipal Structures Act, risk salary deductions and breach of conduct.

# The ANC Youth League believes it is pivotal to the ruling party’s success in the upcoming elections. The league, which was relaunched last year, aims to address challenges such as unemployment and youth disengagement in politics. Speaking at a media briefing, the organisation’s president, Collen Malatji, said their active engagement in communities was driving the ANC’s electoral campaign. According to Malatji, the ANC stands as the sole political entity capable of enhancing the quality of life for the youth: 

# The United Democratic Movement’s deputy president, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, says the ANC government is actively and willingly jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of families of nearly five-thousand Post Office employees, putting them at risk of financial hardship and hunger. The party has voiced its opposition to the government’s approach to rationalising the SAPO through their 3.8-billion-rand business rescue bailout. Kwankwa says the party advocate for SAPO to prioritise its main client base in rural areas by conducting market research to understand their needs:

# Botswana is gearing up for the final arrangements for the mass funeral of 45 Batswana pilgrims who died in a bus accident enroute to the Zion Christian Church in Moria, Limpopo. The solemn event, slated for Garanta cemetery in Molepolole early tomorrow morning, will be preceded by a service at the local sports stadium. Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, says the bodies of the victims will be interred in sealed caskets, with no viewing permitted due to the extent of damage.

# Cricket: The Proteas will play only three Tests until the end of the year. Cricket South Africa announced the team’s schedule for the next home season. After next month’s T20 World Cup, the Proteas will only play at home again in November when they host Sri Lanka for a Test in Durban, and another in Gqeberha from 5 to 9 December. Then they will welcome Pakistan for three T20s and three one-day games before the traditional New Year’s Test in Cape Town.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-50-cents and the euro at 19-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-215-dollars-5-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-298-dollars-29-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-1-cent a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….