News 15:00

BULLETIN 27 May 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Electoral Commission gears up for the special voter registration weekend
# Two officials are suspended over fake references in the A-I document
# And soccer: Scotland is determined their first World Cup in 28 years won’t just be about participation

# The Electoral Commission says preparations for the special voter registration weekend on June 20 and 21 has advanced. Speaking at the national launch of the local government elections in Midrand, Gauteng, CEO Sy Mamabolo said nearly 24-thousand registration stations will open nationwide to allow citizens to register and update details. He confirmed the deployment of 800 outreach coordinators and over 62-thousand community events were conducted:

# Communications and Digital Technologies minister Solly Malatsi has appointed an independent panel to review South Africa’s draft artificial intelligence policy after it was withdrawn over fictitious and possibly A-I-generated references. Addressing Parliament, Malatsi said the seven-member panel will correct flawed citations and recommend changes before cabinet approval. He confirmed the revised policy will be published for public comment by January:

Meanwhile, two officials in the department have been placed on precautionary suspension after using ChatGPT to draft the national policy without disclosure. The document contained fake academic references generated by A-I hallucinations and was subsequently withdrawn. Malatsi confirmed disciplinary action, while Parliament questioned internal oversight and the use of A-I in policy drafting.

# Union federation SAFTU fully supports COSATU’s call on the South African Reserve Bank not to increase interest rates tomorrow. SAFTU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says a further rate hike would increase the cost of home loans, vehicle finance and household debt repayments, and discourage investment and economic expansion. He says the central bank cannot continue to treat inflation as if it exists in isolation from the social catastrophe confronting the majority:

# Soccer: Scotland is determined it’s first World Cup in 28 years will not just be about participation, but to reach at least the knockout stages. The country faces a difficult Group C, competing against five-time champion Brazil, African champions Morocco, and Caribbean minnows Haiti. Scotland opens its account against Haiti in Boston in the US on 14 June. Coach Steve Clarke can count on experienced players such as Andy Robertson from Liverpool, Aston Villa’s captain, John McGinn, and Scott McTominay from Napoli.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-4-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 75-thousand-723-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-435-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-15-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….