News 15:00

BULLETIN 27 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# System issues at polling stations in Pretoria
# The Election Monitoring Network urges fair ballot placement by the IEC 
# And tennis: Alexander Zverev says facing Rafael Nadal in the French Open first round is not ideal 

# Some voters in Pretoria have reported system challenges at polling stations. The online system to access voters’ details was not working. Officials then wrote down ID numbers and voters were still given their three ballot papers. The three ballot papers had to be put in one envelope and then inside another envelope before being placed in the ballot box.

Meanwhile, the Election Monitoring Network has urged the Electoral Commission to ensure fair placement of political parties on the ballot. Policy analyst Nkosikhulule Nyembezi highlighted that top candidates often receive gratuitous votes from undecided voters. Specialists confirm ballot order can influence results. The IEC uses a random draw to ensure fairness. Nyembezi emphasised that proper election monitoring is crucial for transparency, fairness, and acceptance of results, enhancing confidence in the electoral process.

# The Department of Social Development says various pieces of legislation, including the Constitution and the Children’s Act, have been passed to improve the living conditions of children. In 2020, there were 657 migrant children in alternative care. This number could now have reached a thousand. The department’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, says the total number of children repatriated since 2005 is 23 from eleven countries:

# Tennis: An unexpected first round clash takes place at the French Open today between Germany’s fourth seed Alexander Zverev and clay-court king Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has only played four tournaments since January last year due to injuries and this has left the 37-year-old unseeded for the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. Zverev says he is definitely not underestimating the 14-time champion:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-39-cents and the euro at 19-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-546-dollars-16-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-345-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

# And finally: African chocolate makers are reportedly thriving amidst a cocoa supply shortage and rising prices globally. With ethical concerns in mind, demand for chocolates from countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast is growing in Asia, Europe, and the US. Environmental, social, and governance regulations and consumer preferences for authentic, locally-sourced products are driving this trend. Brands like ’57 Chocolates and Le Chocolatier Ivoirien are experiencing significant sales growth, highlighting the shift towards ethically made chocolates from Africa.

Stay tuned for more news………….