News 15:00

BULLETIN 19 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa salutes the National Orders honorees’ contributions
# Eleven Western Cape schools are closed due to blocked access roads
# And rugby: The Junior Boks assemble in Stellenbosch for the Under-20 international series

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised recipients of this year’s National Orders for advancing democracy and nation-building. Speaking in Pretoria, he said the honorees have contributed greatly to arts, science, medicine, education and human rights. Ramaphosa notes the vision of equality, justice and dignity dates back generations. He adds the country’s democratic Constitution became the foundation built by patriots and heroes who shaped modern South Africa:

# Activists and Citizens Forum calls for strong legal action against controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi who is in custody facing several charges including perjury, defeating the ends of justice, and illegal possession of a firearm. His formal bail application has been set for Monday. The forum’s Dennis Bloem accuses Mogotsi of undermining legal institutions, including the Madlanga commission, Parliament’s ad hoc processes, and the criminal justice system:

# Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier says 11 schools in the Cape Winelands, Eden, and Central Karoo districts remain closed due to blocked access roads following severe weather. He says the closures are expected to continue for the rest of the week, with catch-up plans in place for affected learners. Maynier adds 60 schools have reported damage and are currently being assessed, although arrangements have been made for most to remain open:

# Eskom has threatened to cut electricity supply to the City of Johannesburg due to the metro’s failure to honour the terms of a settlement agreement relating to outstanding debt, and the payment of its current electricity account. The power utility is owed 5.25-billion-rand by City Power. Eskom says it has resumed the process of notifying residents and businesses of its intention to reduce, interrupt or terminate electricity to certain bulk supply points supplying the metro with effect from July 8.

# Rugby: The Junior Springbok training squad completed their first training session at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport as preparations ramp up for the Under-20 international series in the Western Cape. The series will also feature South Africa’s counterparts from Chile, Fiji, and Georgia, and will be staged at Rondebosch Boys’ High and Wynberg Boys’ High in Cape Town, and Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. The Junior Boks’ first encounter will be against Chile at Rondebosch High at 3pm on Thursday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-35-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-812-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-539-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….