News 15:00

BULLETIN 14 June 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC and the DA sign an agreement to form a government of national unity
# Oscar Mabuyane is re-elected as premier of the Eastern Cape 
# And rugby: Rassie Erasmus is pleased with the Bok training camp 

# The ANC and the DA have announced the signing of a framework agreement to form a government of national unity that will also include the IFP. It was signed by the ANC’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, and the chairperson of the DA’s federal council, Helen Zille. This happened during a break in the first session of the National Assembly in the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Experts believe the deal will lead to Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected as president of the country.

Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema, deputy president Floyd Shivambu and the party’s Members of Parliament have been sworn in despite arriving late for the first sitting of the National Assembly. The EFF’s 39 MPs, including Malema, took their oaths, pledging to uphold the Constitution. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who presided over the ceremony, says it marks the beginning of the seventh democratic Parliament following the elections:

# ANC premier candidate Oscar Mabuyane has been re-elected as Eastern Cape premier for another five-year term. Presiding over the proceedings, the acting judge president of the province, Judge Zamani Ntlangulela, swore in Helen Sauls-August as the elected provincial legislature speaker. Vuyo Jali has been elected as deputy speaker of the legislature. The re-election is said to mark a continuation of Mabuyane’s leadership in the province, with hopes for further development and progress.

# Outgoing eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda says he has achieved many successes during his tenure, including settling the Eskom debt, improving water supply and securing political stability. He has been recalled by the ANC and re-deployed to the National Council of Provinces. Kaunda says they are currently implementing the 1.2-billion-rand Southern Aqueduct project to improve water supply in the southern areas such as Umlazi, Chatsworth, Folweni, KwaMakhutha and Adams:

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is satisfied that they have a solid base to build from as the squad prepares to face Wales in the opening Test of the season at Twickenham next week Saturday. The squad concluded a training camp in Pretoria. Erasmus says they are pleased with the quality of the training sessions and the manner in which the new players have grasped their systems and slotted in. The team to face Wales will be announced on Tuesday before they depart for London on Wednesday night.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-909-dollars-43-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-327-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….