News 15:00

BULLETIN 21 June 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Solidarity considers legal action over pension fund mismanagement
# The African vaccine manufacturing industry is to supply over 60-percent of the continent’s vaccine doses by 2040
# And Rugby: The Bulls will not give an inch against the Glasgow Warriors in the URC final

# Trade union Solidarity is contemplating legal action due to concerns over mismanagement of the government employees’ pension fund. They aim to protect pensioners’ interests amidst fears of further mismanagement and potential financial losses. At a recent summit, experts highlighted issues including past irregularities and new legislation allowing early pension withdrawals. Solidarity’s Helgard Cronjé expressed concern that the fund, Africa’s largest pension fund, could suffer losses if public service workers withdraw their funds prematurely.

# The African vaccine manufacturing industry is expected to supply over 60-percent of the continent’s vaccine doses by 2040, up from around two-percent now. A funded 18-billion-rand scheme, the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, will be launched to boost vaccine production in Africa. French president Emmanuel Macron said at the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris, this initiative aims to address vaccine access inequality and produce vaccines for diseases like cholera and malaria that affect many African children.

# Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has announced the new executive council for the province’s seventh administration. Following the ANC’s 62-percent electoral victory, Mabuyane restructured departments to boost job creation and investment, separating finance from economic development, and merging public works with human settlements. Briefing the media, Mabuyane urged the community to support the new MECs in their efforts to serve the province effectively, particularly in addressing recent challenges such as the flood disaster in Kariega:

# The City of Cape Town has welcomed the Department of Public Works’ eviction application for unlawful occupants around the Castle of Good Hope in the city centre. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasised the need to restore the area for tourism and public safety. He says this move is part of efforts to manage public spaces and assist the homeless:

# Rugby: The Bulls will not give an inch tomorrow when they host the Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship final in Pretoria. They want to become the second South African franchise to win the title. A victory will have extra significance for South African rugby. It will rubberstamp the country’s status as one of the top in the world following the Springboks second Rugby World Cup victory in a row in France last year and the Sharks’ victory in the Challenge Cup last month. The match kicks off at 6pm.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-87-cents and the euro at 19-rand-10-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-938-dollars-58-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-364-dollars-45-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….